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. 13-14

(Forgetting what lies behind

   means not defined by

   our past or failures,

but knowing

   we are forgiven

                and redeemed.

We are identified as His

     and loved by Him.

We press on,

not into our performance

    of a set of beliefs,

but fully into His grace

  on which we can

  stake our lives.

Are we still dragging

 burdens that

have already been forgiven?)

O LORD,

Help us to drag our burdens

before You

    and leave them there.

You have something

   far eternal

   for us to do

than to be mired in the past.

Help us to strain forward

      and press on

in knowing You more,

running with You,

running into Your embrace.

We are not just

     strengthened by You,

but released,

transformed,

and moving forward.

-- www.nightlytea.blogspot.com