Running is all moment forward moment. You’ve got to push forward. And while you use your previous runs as learning experiences, you can’t dwell on them. Some runs are great, some runs are meh, and some runs the worst. You can’t dwell too much on the old runs because they can steal your momentum in your current run. Previous runs are just that – old runs. And while they provide perspective and guidance, they aren’t what you’re doing now – they aren’t your current run.
Paul tells us this is also the attitude we should have with our spiritual run. He said he forgot the former things and continue reaching forward for the goal of Christ. Paul worked to forget the mistakes he had made, he worked to forget the successes he had experienced, and he worked to forget the bad days and the good days.
Now does this mean he NEVER remembered them or used them as guidance? NO! But what it does mean is he didn’t dwell on them.
👟 He didn’t let he past sins paralyze him with guilt.
👟 He didn’t let his past successes influence him to be complacent or arrogant.
👟 He used the past for one purpose – training.
Paul declares repeatedly he is pressing forward or reaching forward toward Jesus. He didn’t let the past consume him, jade him, ruin him, or taint him. He used it to help him press forward.
Paul knew he wasn’t perfect but he also knew as long as he kept trying to press forward toward Jesus – Jesus would be there at the of his race waiting to give Paul His prize.
The past was simply training runs for Paul. It helped Him have perspective. The past taught Paul, provided him with experience, gave him confidence, and humbled him. All of those things helped Paul press forward.
So, don’t let your past keep you from pressing forward toward Jesus and don’t let your past create an arrogant or complacent heart that doesn’t take the current run seriously. In order to run your current race and get to the end, you’ll need all that previous mileage but it is only useful if you remember they are in the past. Don’t let it weigh you down. Don’t let it make you cocky. Instead, use the past to motivate, teach, and humble you.
Remember, the past is simply your training runs and running is about pressing forward not looking back. #runningtherace
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