Move Forward on Purpose: Let Go, Press On

Rooted in Philippians 3:13–14, this call urges entering 2026 with direction, not drift. Two kinds of people step into a new year—those expectant about what’s ahead and those still carrying what’s behind. The past can paralyze not only through pain and regret but also through comfort and old victories. Paul’s confession, “I have not arrived,” reframes maturity: it is not measured by how far someone has come, but by how intentionally they are still moving in the upward call of Christ.

That intentional movement rests on three graces: release, focus, and effort. Release means “forgetting” as a disciplined decision—not erasing memory but redefining its role. Past failures already forgiven must lose their grip; past successes must not become a substitute for present dependence. Only open hands can receive new mercies. Focus means narrowing energy to “one thing,” refusing to divide attention between yesterday and tomorrow. Clarity beats multitasking; comparison and credentials cannot measure faithfulness. Purpose becomes visible when distractions are pruned, friendships and opportunities are weighed, and daily choices align with God’s present emphasis. Not every open door is from God, and not every trend equals a calling; ask God what He wants this year.

Effort means pressing—an active, determined pursuit shaped by obedience more than ambition. Spiritual growth is not passive attendance but a pattern of practiced disciplines: prayer, Scripture, and obedience. Progress may feel slow, but delay is not divine absence; God often works behind the scenes, pacing steps to protect and prepare. He supplies strength for every assignment He gives.

A vivid picture ties it all together: dragging a broken-wheeled suitcase makes every step loud, resistant, and exhausting—until someone opens it, keeps what is needed, and leaves the rest. Many carry into 2026 old regrets, mindsets, and even yesterday’s wins, and the journey feels heavier than it must. Travel light. Take the lesson; leave the weight. This year demands new decisions: let go, lock in, and press forward. The prize is not comfort or recognition but the upward call in Christ—peace that steadies, joy that endures, and the hope of hearing, “Well done.” Step with purpose; God will take the obedient the rest of the way.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Release what cannot take you forward “Forget” is a disciplined choice to remove the past from the driver’s seat. Failures forgiven by God should no longer fund present shame, and old victories should not become a cozy substitute for fresh dependence. The past is a teacher, not a warden; keep the lesson, drop the label. Real freedom begins where unnecessary baggage is finally set down. [06:02]
• 2. Narrow to one God-directed focus When everything feels important, nothing receives your best. Purpose clarifies when comparison, credentials, and frantic multitasking are replaced with prayerful discernment: “Lord, what are You emphasizing now?” Prune distractions, measure opportunities by calling, and align daily decisions with God’s present assignment. Clarity is a gift God gives to those willing to simplify. [12:53]
• 3. Press with obedient, active effort The upward call is pursued, not stumbled into. Obedience—not ego—fuels a steady, practical rhythm: prayer, Scripture, and Spirit-led action. Slow progress is not failure; it is often God’s wise pacing that protects, forms, and positions. He never commands without supplying strength for the path He sets. [19:15]
• 4. Travel light: keep what nourishes The broken-suitcase picture is a call to curate the soul. Carry forward what builds character—truth, skill, humility—and leave what generates noise—regret, pride, stale comfort. Lightened hearts move farther, faster, and freer in God’s present will. The journey changes the moment unnecessary weight is left behind. [25:16]
• 5. New year demands new decisions A new calendar without new choices repeats old cycles. Resist nostalgia and fear; choose steps that match God’s direction, not yesterday’s momentum. The prize is the upward call—peace, joy, and a life aligned with Christ’s purpose. Purposeful movement today shapes testimonies tomorrow. [28:49]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:20] - Philippians 3:13–14 read
• [01:11] - Theme: Moving forward on purpose
• [02:19] - Two kinds entering 2026
• [05:03] - Release, focus, and effort
• [06:02] - Release: stop living backward
• [10:03] - Don’t camp on past victories
• [12:53] - Focus: do the one thing
• [16:22] - Reduce distractions; test open doors
• [18:49] - Press toward the goal
• [21:59] - Slow progress, steady obedience
• [23:39] - Broken suitcase illustration
• [27:32] - Let go, lock in, press on
• [28:49] - New year, new decisions
• [39:52] - Communion and offering

1. In Philippians 3:13, what does Paul say he has “not” done yet, and what “one thing” does he choose to do?
2. What three movements are named as the way to move forward: release, focus, and effort? ([05:03])
3. According to verse 14, what is the goal and the prize Paul is pressing toward?
4. What everyday picture was used to show how holding on to the past makes the journey noisy and hard? ([24:10])

1. “Forgetting” isn’t memory loss but a disciplined choice to redefine the past’s role. How does that reshape the way forgiven failures and old wins speak into today? ([06:51])
2. Paul narrows to “one thing.” Why is clarity better than trying to split energy between yesterday and tomorrow, especially when comparison and credentials tug at us? ([13:29])
3. Not every open door comes from God. What helps a believer tell the difference between a true calling and a distraction? ([17:41])
4. Slow progress can still be God’s wise pacing. How might divine pacing protect, form, or position a person in ways speed never could? ([21:59])

1. “You cannot move forward while holding on.” What is one regret, label, or even an old victory you’re still gripping? What would releasing it look like this week—practically and prayerfully? ([06:02])
2. Set your focus. When will you block 30 quiet minutes in the next seven days to ask, “Lord, what are You emphasizing now?” What will you prune so that “one thing” gets your best? ([15:44])
3. Reduce distractions. Name one media habit or recurring invite that pulls you from spiritual growth. What boundary will you set, and who will you tell for accountability? ([16:42])
4. Test the open doors. Is there an opportunity in front of you right now? How will you weigh it by Scripture, wise counsel, peace, and fruit before stepping through? ([17:41])
5. Build a pressing rhythm. What is your simple plan for the next 7 days for prayer (how long/when), Scripture (what/where), and obedience (one concrete step)? Write it down and share it. ([21:38])
6. Trust God’s pacing. Where do you feel delayed? If delay is not absence, how will you act in faith this week—one step you can take while God sets things up behind the scenes? ([21:59])
7. Travel light. Open the “suitcase.” What one mindset or habit will you take out and leave behind this month? How will you mark that decision so you don’t pick it back up? ([25:16])