Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
–Phil 3:13-14
“Now Then” is a statement that is used for getting someone’s attention when you are starting to talk about something new. It’s a phrase used to interrupt or redirect what’s being discussed so that you can discuss or consider what is more appropriate or important. “Now Then” is also a statement that can connect the present with the future. Therefore, what you do today will impact tomorrow. What you do now, will determine what happens then. Yesterday is behind you. Today is surrounding you. Your future is in front of you. Ask God for insight, wisdom and clarity and then take a moment now, and reflect upon these scriptures below.
My Lord, you have been our home forever and ever. You were God before the mountains were born, before the earth and the world were made. You have always been and will always be God! You bring people into this world, and you change them into dust again. To you, a thousand years is like yesterday, like a few hours in the night. Our life is like a dream that ends when morning comes. We are like grass that grows and looks so fresh in the morning, but in the evening it is dry and dying. Teach us how short our lives are so that we can become wise. -Psalm 90:1-6, 12
“I admit that I haven’t yet acquired the absolute fullness that I’m pursuing, but I run with passion into his abundance so that I may reach the purpose that Jesus Christ has called me to fulfill and wants me to discover. I don’t depend on my own strength to accomplish this; however I do have one compelling focus: I forget all of the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead.” -Philippians 3:12-13 TPT
Now is this instance. Then refers to a specific time. It can refer to the past, or it can be referring to the future. The moment you have now, is all about building a brighter future. A future that glorifies God and benefits those with whom you come in to contact with. Learn from the past, but live in the present moment while believing for a brighter future.
There are really only two realms of reality that we live in, or live out of:
- Our Past…
- Our Future…
The present is never a realized reality, because the moment you realize that it existed, it’s gone! In a split second, it no longer exists. And now is gone the second you say it! However, you must remember, it’s not about minutes; it’s about moments. When you seize the moments that matter, those special moments that are contained in each day, you will help create a better tomorrow, while securing a brighter future. Philippians chapter three and verse thirteen shines some light on how to do this.
3 Things to Consider From This Passage in Philippians 3:13:
(1). Realize. (2). Remember. (3). Reach.
1. Realize You will Never Have it All Figured Out. (The starting place of realization is admission [an act of admitting or the fact or state of being admitted. *Admitting your need, your weakness, your sin, your addiction, or your shortcoming, is the gateway to victory and the doorway to freedom.
7 Things to Admit and to Realize:
- I’ve not arrived.
- There are things I don’t know.
- There are things I could be better with, and better at.
- I don’t know the answer to every question.
- I don’t know the solution to very problem.
- I can’t understand everything that happens.
- I don’t always know the right thing to do or the right thing to say.
*Phil.3:13 (*But this one thing I do) You may not have it all figured out, but you may have one thing that you do know or that you can do.
- Learn from the past, but forget the bad times, the sorrow and the regrets of yesterday.
- Learn from the past, but break the cycles and patterns of the past that created what you didn’t desire, so they don’t reappear in your future.
- Learn from the past, but don’t carry the burdens, sorrows or regrets of the past into the present, or into your future.
2. Remember the Past is the Past. Forget the things that hinder your future progress, or that keep you bound to the past in a negative way; especially the things that bring disappointment and discouragement in regards to your future.
Don’t Allow These Things to Hinder You:
- Regrets (what you did or said)
- What you did.
- What you didn’t do.
- You can’t change the past. But, if it has been forgiven, than forget it and trust God for your future.
- Don’t allow what you can’t control; to control you!
- Unforgiveness(what other people have done or said)
“Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a permanent attitude.” -Martin Luther King Jr.
- It takes faith to give and receive forgiveness.
- Not forgiving doesn’t cause harm to the other person, it causes harm to you.
- Forgiveness doesn’t minimize the offense, it releases you from the burden of carrying the hurt.
- Forgiveness doesn’t minimize the fault of the offender; it brings freedom to the offended.
- Jesus said, “Father forgive them, into your hands I commit my spirit.”
- Not forgiving will keep you tied to the past you’re desiring to forget.
- YOU MUST LEARN TO BE:
- Thankful
- Grateful
- Content
Comparing and complaining will keep you from being content!
- Live in the present and make the most of every moment.
- Don’t take life or yourself too serious.
- Always be a work in progress that is always growing and ever learning.
3. Reach for What’s Next and What’s Best.
(But don’t miss what’s right beside you) – I think that Paul is saying that he’s trying to move ahead by reaching for what matters and forgetting what doesn’t.
The last always looks better than it really is, the farther you move away from it. (*The good old days)
- When don’t feel like you have anything to look forward to; it’s easy to look back.
When it Comes to Your Future You Have to:
- See it! (you have to see it first)
- Say it! (say what you see)
- Seize it! (take hold of it)
- To reach means to: strain, stretch, risk and change.
- Stretching will help you reach higher, and go further.
- The greater the risk the greater the reward.
- Nothing ever changes without change
- Stretch yourself and reach higher!
- Don’t get distracted with things that don’t matter!
- Celebrate small victories along the way. *(God created things “in time”, not in one day, and every time He did He said, “it is good.”)
- Enjoy life, glorify God, and love people.
- Good intentions won’t get you there.
- Intentions are what you intend to do.
- Strategy is a clear plan on how to accomplish what you desire.
- Your strategy, not your intention, determines your success.
Many people intend to spend more time with their family, to be less scattered at work, to manage their time better, to ensure their top priories get accomplished, but they haven’t found a strategy to get them to that place.
- Set goals and prioritize what truly matters.
- Stretch yourself and dream big.
- Be open minded, but, stay focused on what truly matters.
- “Now Then” You Must- Learn from the past – but forget the bad times, sorrow and regrets – You can’t change what has happened up to now, but you can determine what happens from now on. *Admit
- “Now Then” You Must- Live in the present – Make the most of every moment, don’t take life or yourself too serious- make as many memories as you can. Always be a work in progress- always growing and ever learning. *Forget
- “Now Then You Must- Believe for the Future – Reach for what’s ahead. Set goals and prioritize what truly matters. Stretch yourself, dream big, be open minded, and stay focused on what truly matters. *Reach
