Philippians 3

There is something that I so easily pass over in what is said in Philippians3:12-14,”Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.....one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”.The “forgetting what lies behind” part of these verses is where I get snagged to the point that I am significantly deterred in the “press on toward the goal...”of what these verses are instructing/encouraging.Much of my personal response to God is determined by what things I am clinging to in all my yesterday’s,& what things I am turning loose of!These are everything from ideas/thoughts/beliefs/paradigms that TRUTH has successfully challenged and confirmed in God’s Word as not good&not right,to also including habits/actions/priorities that have also been successfully confirmed in God’s Word as not good&not right.These verses say that if I continue to have these things a part of my heart/mind/heart,& do not forget about these things/turn away from them...that I can not effectively expect to be “straining forward....toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”.I may be straining...,but unless I am turning loose of those things that I regularly learn as not the eternally best things for me nor for those around me(“forgetting what lies behind”),I am NOT straining in the RIGHT DIRECTION!I could very well be perilously fooling myself and those around me toward directions that are very far from the right directions/the right goals.This may be part of the reason for what Jesus says in Luke9:62,”No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”.If I am not regularly surveying my life to understand the lessons of every day too learn what may be holding me back from pressing on “toward the goal”,then I am NOT truly pressing on in the right direction,and definitely NOT pressing on toward the RIGHT GOAL...but pressing on for the wrong goals!This is a major place in our lives that the devil employs some of his most deceptive tactics....and why these verses carry a very strong message for us about not letting the devil’s schemes of guilt;entitlement;lusts;comfort;selfishness;pride;eternal insignificance;self-reliance;incorrect ideas/beliefs about God/His Ways/His Word;etc.,continue to be a part of our lives as we grow in our faith(“toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”)!Dear Lord,I need Your help in knowing the areas in my life that I need to turn away from... & help me to be honest&transparent about them.....,AND I also need Your help in truly turning from them...AND Your help in the “straining forward” toward all of the RIGHT GOALS.