But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ, yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 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 3:7-14

I think that we often see this passage of scripture as a good idea or something we should try to do when we get around to it. We think that pressing on means going to church a couple of times a week or trying to pray or read the bible on a semi-regular basis. I think that needs to change. If we are going to be those who press on and strain toward the CHANGE that God wants to take place in our lives, then we need to start taking proactive steps rather than just reacting to circumstances and situations. We have not been called to some mediocre, come when you feel like it, add it to your life if it is convenient, religious practice. We have been called into a dynamic, intimate, constant, ever-growing relationship with our creator through Christ Jesus. When we are convinced of that, we will walk in the fact that we are More Than Conquerors. We will begin to take territory in our lives rather than succumbing to the enemy's schemes. Let's press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of us.

Pastor Dale