Day 13 | 40-Day Lenten Fast & Devotional

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. Philippians 3:13-14

Good morning, family. Good morning, good morning. It's day number…13 of our 40 day Lenten devotional and we have this week been talking about forgiveness and repentance.

For the first days we've really been focusing on forgiving others but today I want to take a look at Philippians the third chapter. Very familiar passage of scripture to all of those who are  probably the hallmark of faith  looking at the 13th and 14th verse but I want to put a different lens on it and this is the lens of not forgiveness  for other people when they've wronged you.

But forgiveness for yourself when you found yourself in transgression, Philippians chapter 3 starting at verse number 13, “Brothers and sisters I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it, but one thing I do forgetting what is behind  nd straining toward what is head I Press toward the goal to win the prize for which crowd has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Pressed toward the mark, you recall, from the original context. This scripture is really embedded in a place that I think is very pertinent to us today. I think one of the hardest things to do, even beyond that of someone wronging  us, is forgiving yourself. See, the enemy wants you to be held hostage to the area of guilt because as long as you're held to the area of guilt, it's impossible for you to progress. That's why it talks about forgetting what is behind. But here's the thing, it's not telling you to as in act like it didn't happen. More so, forgetting the fact that ultimately you are not held to the condemnation of that sin and you aren't actually forgiven. It's an acceptance of grace because what does guilt do? Guilt will force you to remain in prison by past mistakes  and with the inability to move forward. So many of us find ourselves there. The reason why it's hard for us to forgive ourselves is because it's hard to face two things. Number one, the feebleness of who we are. There are some areas where the mirror is unbearable. Have you been there? Looking back over what you did was so unbearable because you saw yourself in the carnal realization that you're not as good as you proclaim to be. You're not as good as you try to be. That ultimately you're just as flawed as everybody else.

Hard part is we find that juxtaposed with our ability to pass judgment on others. And the only way that we can comfortably pass judgment on others is if we have to piously place ourselves above them. But when we realize that we're just one mistake, one misstep away from being just as destitute with the exception that we've been saved by grace, it gives us a different lens to look at one another. It gives us the ability to not only relate, but also  to find our ways to overcome areas that have plagued us. You can't overcome it if you still find yourself in prison by it.  And that's exactly what guilt does. But the Bible declares there's no condemnation. And God says, listen, I've forgiven you. I've already paid the price. But you keep rehearsing it, you keep reliving it, you keep  reenacting it. And ultimately, you cannot move forward. It says, because I'm forgetting those things that are behind, watch this, 14,  I press toward the goal. Not forgetting as in it never happened, but forgetting as I'm not who I was in that moment. And because I'm not who I was in that moment, I can comfortably move towards who I'm trying to be. And that's the goal.

So I want to talk to you on this morning. I just want to encourage you on this wonderful Wednesday. Be not dismayed. God has forgiven you once you've actually sent an area of repentance, God has already forgiven you. You don't need to hold yourself hostage. Give yourself the ability to be free, and to move forward. Be better on tomorrow than you were on yesterday.  God bless you. Have an incredible day.ches of Zion. Talk to y'all soon. Be blessed.