Prayer prepares our future - Philippians 3:13-14 "13Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
- I count not myself to have apprehended—Whatever gifts, graces, or honors I may have received from Jesus Christ, I consider every thing as incomplete till I have finished my course, got this crown, and have my body raised and fashioned after his glorious body.
- This one thing I do—This is the concern, as it is the sole business, of my life.
- Forgetting those things which are behind—My conduct is not regulated nor influenced by that of others; I consider my calling, my Master, my work, and my end. If others think they have time to loiter or trifle, I have none: time is flying; eternity is at hand; and my all is at stake.
- Reaching forth—The Greek word επεκτεινομενος points out the strong exertions made in the race; every muscle and nerve is exerted, and he puts forth every particle of his strength in running. He was running for life, and running for his life.
- I press toward the mark— I pursue along the line; this is a reference to the white line that marked the ground in the stadium, from the starting place to the goal, on which the runners were obliged to keep their eye fixed; for they who transgressed or went beyond this line did not run lawfully, and were not crowned, even though they got first to the goal.
- For the prize of the high calling of God—The reward which God from above calls me, by Christ Jesus, to receive. The apostle still keeps in view his crown of martyrdom and his glorious resurrection.
Father, You have captured my heart with Your love. You are the purpose of my living and the longing of my spirit. As I proceed forward in my spiritual quest, I reaffirm my focus to not be entangled by anything in this world that will cause me to become distracted from my love for You. I surrender my past, my mistakes, my shortcomings and my failures to You. I declare this today to move forward in faith and stretch further in every effort to obtain Your reward!
