(Philippians 3:13) One thing I do: I forget my past, and I keep pressing on toward my future.

Philippians 3:13 is the key to success in Christian living and in fulfilling your calling and purpose in Jesus Christ.

Paul’s phrase, “one thing I do,” was his guiding core principle of life.

Looking back over my decades of ministry and mission, I can agree with him.

People often ask me how I have accomplished so much for God—pastor, professor, author, and missionary.

There is no special secret sauce.

This verse summarizes the key:

We must forget our past.

This doesn’t mean we whitewash the mistakes of our past, but we learn from our failures, do not repeat them, and focus on growing into maturity in Christ.

We will fail at times, but we don’t allow the sin of our past to weigh us down into the muck of the present.

Instead, we embrace the full forgiveness and grace of God.

We must live out of our freedom in Christ.

I keep pressing on toward my future.

Anything significant we do for God is hard work in God’s grace.

This is why many Christians do not accomplish much: they choose comfort over difficulty and even persecution.

All our Christian lives, we must choose to press on through each day toward our future vision and goals.

We have to press on through every day in a fallen world.

Every day will have new challenges for us to throw us off course.

Anything significant we accomplish for the kingdom of God will cost us—financially, relationally, and spiritually.

When we are pressing on toward our future, we must realize that daily challenges must be overcome.

We must press on through our bad days because tomorrow is a new day in God.

When Jesus told us that we must pick up our cross to be His disciples, He meant it.

This is not hyperbole or an exaggeration.

We must never forget that God is working behind the scenes on our behalf.

There are always surprises from God—things happen that only God could have done.

We must think long-term.

We must always think future.

If we get caught up in the drama of each and every day, we get stuck and bogged down.

We must push through them by faith and perseverance.

Perseverance is everything in success and spiritual growth.

I know this doesn’t sound rosy and sweet, but to accomplish anything big for God is like fighting a war.

Because of the many battles we will face, we must have staying power, day in and day out.

I’ve wanted to give up numerous times, but God has never given up on me.

And He will never give up on you.

Forget your past!

Press on!

Always think future!