CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 775

“Straining Forward”

Philippians 3:12-14 (ESV)   … I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own … 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.

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Have you ever reached for something that was so close but just out of reach?  Perhaps there was something blocking you or someone or something holding you back preventing you from getting a solid grasp on what you were reaching for.  This is the image conveyed by the words ‘straining forward’ in Paul’s letter to the Philippians.  The original word in the Greek means to stretch intently towards your goal.  Perhaps your initial attempts failed so you work to remove any obstructions as well as any hindrances holding you back and you strain forward again.

It is OK to fail.  Thomas Edison persevered through ten thousand failed experiments before he successfully invented the electric light bulb. From every failure comes the seed of an even greater possible success.  Without failure, we can never grow to our full potential.

Why do some people encounter failure and give up while others like Edison persevere through to success?  The difference is commitment.  With each failure, Edison moved forward armed with the knowledge of what did not work.  He was committed to his goal and he persevered through each failure.  He ‘failed forward’.

We will encounter more failure than success in this life.  Failing forward means to turn past failures into a platform that moves you closer to reaching your goal rather than anchors that hold you back.  Failing forward means that you do not let your past failures solidify as barriers in front of you telling you that ‘you can’t’, ‘you’re unable’, or ‘you will never’.  Instead you see past failures as keys, tools, and methods of overcoming any perceived barriers that hinder your reach.

People will fail us in our families, workplaces, churches and other relationships.  We will fail to live up to our expectations for ourselves and others every day.  Is this reason and cause to give up, throw in the towel, and call it quits?  Or will we fail forward and continue to stretch intently towards our goal because we are committed?

What are you committed to?  Are you committed to following Jesus Christ?  Then failures along the way will only strengthen your character.

Are you committed to your spouse no matter what the circumstance?  Then failures and difficulties in your marital relationship will become opportunities to grow deeper in your relationship with the Lord and with each other as you move forward with a mutual commitment to make the marriage work.

And so it is with all other areas where failures disappoint.  Our commitment to our families, employers, coworkers, churches, communities and country will see us through difficult times of trial and failure.  Because of our commitment we fail forward to success.

May the Holy Spirit transform and infuse your heart with commitment, perseverance and purpose to fail forward toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus for this life and the next.