Press On: Forget the Past, Run Toward Jesus

Mar 15, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: The Call to Intentionally Press On

The Christian life is not a passive drift but an intentional, disciplined pursuit. It requires a focused effort and a determined heart, much like an athlete training for a competition. This journey demands that we actively chase after the calling Christ has placed on our lives. It is a purposeful race that we are called to run with endurance and zeal. We are invited to move forward with holy determination. [11:41]

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. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But 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. (Philippians 3:12-14 ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your spiritual life where you have been passively drifting instead of intentionally pressing in? What would a single, practical step of disciplined pursuit look like in that area this week?

Day 2: Forgetting the Past to Strain Toward the Future

A runner cannot afford to glance backward without losing momentum and potentially the entire race. In the same way, our spiritual progress is hindered when we focus on what is behind us. This includes past regrets, former sins, or even seasons we romanticize. The call is to actively forget these things and fix our eyes on what is ahead. Our full attention must be given to the future God has for us. [13:20]

But 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. (Philippians 3:13b-14 ESV)

Reflection: Is there a specific memory, regret, or season from your past that you find yourself consistently looking back at? How might intentionally "forgetting" it—by releasing its hold on your thoughts—free you to strain toward what God has ahead?

Day 3: The Essential Support of Spiritual Community

We are not designed to run this race alone. God provides us with coaches, co-runners, and a cheering crowd to help us press on. Co-runners are those who run beside us, offering encouragement and accountability for the journey. This community provides strength, support, and a shared sense of purpose that we cannot find in isolation. We need others to help us keep our eyes on the goal. [26:24]

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. (Hebrews 12:1 ESV)

Reflection: Who are the specific "co-runners" in your life that encourage you in your faith? How can you intentionally strengthen one of those relationships this week to better run the race together?

Day 4: Fixing Our Eyes on the Eternal Prize

Our ultimate focus is not on the temporary struggles of this world but on the eternal prize that awaits us. We are citizens of heaven, and this truth reorients our perspective on every earthly challenge. The finish line is the upward call of God in Christ Jesus, and this hope fuels our perseverance. Keeping our eyes fixed on this glorious future empowers us to run with endurance. [20:50]

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. (Philippians 3:20-21 ESV)

Reflection: When you consider your current challenges, how does the reality of your heavenly citizenship change your perspective? What is one practical way you can remind yourself of this eternal truth today?

Day 5: Receiving Strength to Run When We Are Weary

There are moments in the race when weariness sets in and our strength fails. In these times, we are not called to simply try harder but to receive a supernatural infusion of faith and strength from the Holy Spirit. God Himself is our greatest cheerleader, running with us and renewing our resolve. He provides the endurance we need to press on toward the goal. [35:42]

He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:29-31 ESV)

Reflection: Where in your life are you feeling most weary or burdened in your spiritual journey? Instead of striving, what would it look like to simply wait on the Lord and receive His renewing strength in that area?

Sermon Summary

Paul writes from a Roman prison with urgency and joy, urging believers to pursue Christ with relentless focus. The Philippian passage centers on one driving commitment: forgetting what lies behind and straining toward what lies ahead. Athletic imagery frames the Christian life as an intentional race that demands discipline, endurance, and single-minded pursuit; drifting, glancing back, or clinging to past comforts and regrets drains momentum and forfeits victory. Historical and biblical examples—John Landy’s glance that cost a race and Lot’s wife frozen in salt—illustrate how a backward look can wreck forward progress. The prize reframes perspective: citizenship in heaven and the upward call of God make present trials temporary and purposeful.

Practical help follows the appeal to press on. Community forms the infrastructure for endurance: coaches to expose blind spots and spur growth, co-runners who shoulder burdens and restore momentum, and the great cloud of witnesses plus Jesus as the ultimate encouragers. These relational supports supply accountability, encouragement, and a heavenly perspective that sustains during seasons of weariness, doubt, or attack. Personal testimony and vivid impressions—drums in the night, an infusion of faith like a spiritual protein shake—underscore that perseverance often arrives through the Spirit and the visible example of others.

The call culminates in an urgent pastoral prayer for renewed strength: release burdens, reclaim focus, and fix eyes on Jesus so the race finishes well. The conclusion pushes for immediate response—renewed commitment, communal prayer, and altar ministry for those ready to surrender or to be refreshed. The thrust remains simple and fierce: run with purpose, refuse to look back, and press on toward the eternal prize with the help of faithful companions and the empowering presence of God.

Key Takeaways

1. Forget the past, fix on Jesus A backward glance reroutes the heart toward anchors that no longer serve spiritual growth. Leaving past mistakes, comforts, and comparisons behind frees the mind to pursue the upward call without divided loyalties. Focus on Christ reorders priorities so present hardships serve training rather than traps. [12:33]
2. Run with disciplined intensity The Greek term for “press on” implies pursuing, chasing, even hunting—spiritual progress requires aggressive, consistent effort. Discipline shapes the soul: countering ease, resisting passivity, and choosing daily forward motion. Endurance forms over time; discipline converts short thrills into sustained faithfulness. [11:13]
3. Choose coaches and co-runners Intentional mentors reveal blind spots and model longevity; peers carry burdens and restore momentum. Surrounding oneself with those who run well creates habits, confession, and encouragement that reshape behavior more than willpower alone. Community transforms solitary struggle into shared perseverance. [23:35]
4. Imagine the cloud of witnesses Heavenly and earthly examples testify that the struggle ends in vindication, not wasted effort. Holding the crowd of witnesses in mind reframes suffering as participation in a larger story and invites courage to continue when discouragement arrives. That vision fuels hope and steadies the feet. [28:15]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:17] - Campus Greetings
[00:43] - Youth Conference Testimony
[03:26] - Prison Context of Philippians
[04:10] - Theme: Press On, Don't Look Back
[05:12] - Reading Philippians 3:12-21
[06:15] - Athletic Imagery: The Race
[13:20] - John Landy: A Cautionary Tale
[15:44] - Lot's Wife and Looking Back
[23:07] - Practical: The Three C’s Overview
[23:35] - Coaches: Mentors and Accountability
[25:54] - Co-runners: Community Support
[28:15] - The Crowd: Cloud of Witnesses
[30:34] - Personal Testimony & Spiritual Drums
[36:24] - Prayer, Altar Invitation, Close

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
Philippians 3:12-14 (ESV)
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. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But 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.

Observation questions

What two specific actions does Paul say he is doing in his spiritual life in verse 13?
What is the ultimate goal or "prize" that Paul is straining toward, according to verse 14?
The sermon used the story of John Landy looking back in a race. What was the consequence of that single glance? [14:24]
What are the "three C's" of support that were described as essential for running the Christian race well? [23:07]

Interpretation questions

Why is "forgetting what is behind" just as important as "straining toward what is ahead" in the life of a believer? What kinds of things from the past can hold a person back?
The Christian life is described as a race that requires aggressive, disciplined effort, not passive drifting. [11:13] Why do you think this level of intensity is necessary?
How does remembering that our "citizenship is in heaven" (Phil. 3:20) change the way we run the race here on earth?
What is the role of the "great cloud of witnesses" mentioned in Hebrews 12:1, and how can remembering them provide strength to a weary runner? [28:15]

Application questions

What is one specific thing from your past—a regret, a comfort, a sin, or a season of life—that you find yourself "glancing back" at, causing you to lose spiritual momentum? What would it look like to actively "forget" it and fix your eyes forward this week?
Spiritual discipline converts short thrills into sustained faithfulness. [11:13] What is one small, disciplined step you can take this week to "press on" with more intentionality, whether in prayer, Scripture reading, or resisting a specific temptation?
Who is a "coach" in your life—someone who models faithfulness and can speak into your blind spots? If you don't have one, what is a practical step you could take to find one? [23:35]
Who are your "co-runners"—the people running the race beside you who encourage you and hold you accountable? How can you intentionally lean into that community this week, and how can you be a better co-runner for someone else? [25:54]
When you feel spiritually tired and attacked, how can you practically use the truth that you are surrounded by a "great cloud of witnesses" and that Jesus is your ultimate cheerleader to find renewed strength? [28:15]
Are you currently carrying a burden or weight that is slowing you down in the race? What would it look like to release that to Jesus today and receive His "infusion of faith" to press on? [36:41]

Sermon Clips

24s

#DontGiveUpFaith

“But it's a real journey. And Paul wrote to the Philippian church, and he's like, don't give up. I know it's going to be easy to give up on this Christian faith. And that's obviously a small example, but they're suffering and persecution. There's a lot going on. There he's Paul's talking about how the the there's gonna be people around him that are gonna be against Christ and the cross of Christ. And so he's like, I know it's going to be easy to give up,”

31s

#ForgetThePastPressOn

“Maybe it's the familiarity of the past. Like, I just felt safer there. In order to go forward, I'm gonna have to grow and mature and develop, and I don't wanna do that. Like, can I trust God fully? It is gonna require some trust. It's gonna require some endurance. But Paul is saying with an urgency in his vocabulary today and a cry in his heart while he's sitting in prison chained to a soldier. He is saying, forget what lies behind and press on. Move forward because it's gonna be worth it.”

33s

#EyesOnJesusEndure

“We're just passing through this earth. We are living for something bigger and beyond, and we have to keep our focus. But while we are here on this earth, we are to run with endurance, eyes fixed on the prize, and Jesus being that ultimate prize. Because when my eyes are on him and fixed on him, I can make it. I can make it through the hardest of storms. I can make it through the toughest of times, and I can sustain momentum and not drift off course.”

32s

#ServeWithEternalPerspective

“You can discipline your flesh and say, no. As for me and my house, we're gonna serve the Lord. I dedicate all my days to the Lord. I will not look back to the right or to the left, but I will keep pursuing because I know that there is a king on the throne and he said, my son, my daughter, it'll all be worth it in the end. We're not meant to live with a mindset of comfort on this earth, but perspective. We are living for eternity on mine.”

23s

#CommunityInHardTimes

“Honestly, like, when you go through hard times, when you go through situations in life, I always say this. I'm like, how do people do this without community? I have no idea. Like, when I'm going through a hard time, I I have people that I can call in and say, hey. I'm not okay. And here's the thing. When you're running the race, you need to have somebody that you can look over at and say, I can't do this. This is hard. And they'll say, I know.”

31s

#SpiritualBattlesReal

“I hear these drums in the night, and I, like, I wake up in my my bed, and I'm like, woah. Like a Jumanji situation. I'm like, what's happening? And we wear these in ears, you know, on stage, so I thought maybe it's just really loud in my eardrums still or something. But I just felt the impression on my spirit. The Holy Spirit said, no. There there's some suicidal ideations in the body of Christ. There's and it might not be that you wanna attempt suicide in the physical necessarily, but your spirit, there's attack on your spirit, man.”

41s

#StrengthFromTheSpirit

“It was like a protein shake in the spirit realm. It's like all of a sudden, I just felt like I was like this, and then I was like, no. I can do this. Like, he's given me the strength. It's not my strength. It's his strength. And he's literally running with me. He said, come on. Let's go. And from this to this is going to happen even today as the Holy Spirit whispers on your heart and says, my son, my daughter, you've been running a few decades here, but that's okay. That's okay. You there's still a path that I have you on. Stay focused. Keep your eyes fixed.”

28s

#DontLookBackLesson

“to see where Roger was. Wow. And at this exact moment, Roger sprinted past him on the other side and won the race. John lost because he looked back. The moment became so legendary. How sad is this? It became so legendary. There's literally a statue in Vancouver, okay, showing John Landy looking back and losing the race. Like, what?”

29s

#KeepMomentumForward

“what a bummer. The guy could've won. He looks back one glance, and he lost everything in that moment. And spiritually, many believers, many of us today, we are losing momentum the same exact way. We don't even realize it. Not because we stopped running. Right? We're still running, but because we're we're looking we're looking back. And that's why Paul keeps bringing this up. My heart for you today, and I think Paul's heart to all of us today,”

25s

#RunDontLookBack

“But running, as you know, runners cannot run if they look back. I do know this. My kids were in track for a while. I don't know nothing about track. I don't know nothing about how their feet are supposed to go. All I knew is don't look back. Stop looking at your friends. Look ahead. They'd be like, where am I? They're like, don't look back. I knew to say, don't look back. But as runners, you cannot look back, and there is the same for us as believers today.”

35s

#BuildYourSpiritualTeam

“And one way I think that we can be the best that God has called us to be on this race is by making sure that we have the right people surrounding us. Paul tells us, you know, in Philippians and his other writings that there's groups of people. There's people that we need to have in this race in order to press on and take hold of that high call. And I know this personally to be completely true. If you do not have the right people around you, you will you will slow down. You will lose your way. It's important to have community. And so I'm calling this the three c's to help you press on.”

31s

#CloudOfWitnesses

“And this picture of Hebrews with the great cloud of witnesses, this is those who have gone before us that have ran their race well. And they are testifying, and they are witnesses to say that this is going to be worth it. The race is going to be worth it. And when I was reading this, I just began to think of those runners who have ran in faith, whether that be those of the Bible or those that we we know. I have people in my life that have went to heaven, and they ran well.”

38s

#LeadersFaceDarknessToo

“And sometimes when I'm going through a hard time, sometimes when I wanna give up, sometimes when I'm just like, I can't do this anymore. I I let my imagination just picture the great cloud of witnesses. And even this probably a few weeks ago, I was having a really rough time and just feeling some darkness. And leaders we we experience darkness too. We're not living in a bubble. And I was just having such a hard time and really struggling and and, like, pressing I pressed in my whole life. I pressed I my middle name is Press On. You know what I mean? Like,”

27s

#JesusIsYourCheerleader

“But I I know that the Lord is saying that over to you today. And, yes, there is a cloud of witnesses, but the biggest cheerleader we have is Jesus himself. And he is he's not mad at you. He's not like, come on. Go faster. Why are you going so slow? Why do you keep looking back? No. He's cheering you on. And I hope today that you can sense the weight of that on your on your spirit.”

31s

#RunLikeAnAthlete

“In other words, the Christian life is not some random, just motion. Right? It is an intentional pursuit. So Paul is describing this over and over again with these analogies. He's encouraging us today to keep pressing forward like an athlete. And how many of you know? He knew that we were gonna struggle, and so he gave us these athletic imagery to understand that it's going to take some zeal. It's going to take some discipline. It's going to take some you know what I'm saying?”

28s

#DontReturnToBondage

“This important thing, her heart was still attached to what God was delivering her from. She's on her way out from the deliverance moment, and she has to look back. Think about the children of Israel. Man, they kept looking back. They're in the desert for forty years. God rescues them out of bondage and slavery and oppression, and they're going their way. And it starts getting hard. I don't wanna do this. And”

21s

#EndureTheRace

“But is that not what happens on our spiritual journey? We're walking with the Lord. We're like, okay. I can do this. I'm pushing forward. I'm going to CR. I'm getting my step study. I'm I'm moving I'm reading my bible every day. I'm doing this stuff. Come on. Let's go. And then it starts to get a little hard. Right? Because this ain't no walk in the park as Paul has described. But this is a race that we are to run with endurance.”

27s

#DontLetRegretsDistract

“why did I why did I take that job? Why did I move to that city? Like, ah. And the regrets start to come in. The enemy loves to distract us and cause us to just lose our momentum. We're not necessarily stumbling fully on the race, which we will do at times as well, but it's the little setbacks, it's the little look backs that can cause us to lose our focus and to not continue to press on.”

25s

#FaithInfusedInWeariness

“And I could I could sense the urgency in Paul's vocabulary. I could sense this thing in my spirit that I had maybe been just kind of, like, just giving up a little bit. Not fully letting go, not completely stopping my run, but just getting tired. Like, oh, man. I've been really going a long time, Lord, and I'm I'm getting tired. And I as I began to read it, I could feel this this thing, like faith being infused into my soul.”

32s

#RunForEternity

“No. That we would run with focus and fixed purpose to say, we are running for one thing and one thing alone and that is eternity and grabbing as many people as we can on the way and say, we're going this way. I hope you hear his spirit today. It's not words that I can say. Even as I read this passage in my room that night, I just began to weep. I could sense the holy spirit. It wasn't somebody saying something to me. It was the the spirit, the holy spirit”

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