Family Devotion: One Thing We All Should Do
- Dr. Toby Frost
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
📖 READ IT
“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
🔍 DISCOVER IT
Life is full of distractions, and our daily schedules are often packed with school, sports, work, and endless to-do lists. It is easy to feel overwhelmed by trying to do everything at once. In this passage, the Apostle Paul shares a powerful secret to living a focused Christian life: he narrows his focus down to just "one thing." Paul realized that followers of Jesus could not move forward into the bright future God had for them if they kept looking back at past mistakes, regrets, or even past achievements. Instead, he uses the picture of a runner in a race, leaning forward with all their might, eyes locked firmly on the finish line. And for us today, this means we must learn to let go of yesterday's arguments, failures, and distractions. We need to focus our daily energy on growing closer to Jesus and serving Him moment-by-moment each day.
💬 ASK IT
What do you think it means to "forget what is behind" in your everyday life? How can dwelling on past mistakes hold you back spiritually? How can dwelling on past victories hold you back?
Why is it hard for a runner to win a race if they keep looking backward? What is one distraction or past mistake you need to let go of so you can focus on God today?
🧭 LIVE IT
Drop the weight: We will forgive past mistakes quickly, so they do not hold us back.
Keep eyes forward: We will focus our daily attention on what pleases God today, not what happened yesterday.
Run with purpose: We will encourage each other every day to keep growing closer to Jesus.
🙏 PRAY IT
Heavenly Father, thank You for forgetting our past sins and giving us a fresh start every single day. Help me, my friends, and my family to stop looking back at old mistakes and failures. Give us the strength to focus on the "one thing" that truly matters: knowing, loving, and serving You. When we get distracted or tired, remind us to encourage each other to keep running after You. In Jesus' name, Amen.