Philippians 3:12
“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.”
Press on. Maybe you haven’t gotten all that you wanted out of life, but press on. Maybe you haven’t arrived yet, but press on. Christ has something for you to take on as you press on. He’s already obtained it for you, outlined it for you, designated it for you, but you need to receive it for yourself.
This verse reveals an important truth about the Christian life: success isn’t arriving at the goal. Even with all that Paul accomplished late in his life, he still didn’t feel he had crossed the finish line. We’re never really finished serving God. Success is being focused on the goal and moving toward it.
When will that happen? When will you cross the line and obtain the prize? When you die. The race is officially over at that time. So press on, accomplishing everything God wants you to do in the meantime. Cross the finish line knowing you gave it all that you had.
Paul, one of the most accomplished apostles in Christian history, admits he hasn’t arrived. If Paul—who planted churches, wrote much of the New Testament, and suffered greatly for Christ—says he’s still pressing on, what does that say about us? It means the Christian life isn’t about reaching a point where we’ve “made it.” It’s about continual forward movement toward Christ.
The beautiful part is that we’re pressing on to take hold of what Christ has already taken hold of for us. He’s gone ahead and secured it. He’s outlined the path and designated the purpose. Our job is to receive it and walk in it.
Stop waiting to feel like you’ve “arrived” before you consider yourself successful. Success in God’s eyes is staying focused on the goal and moving toward it, not crossing some imaginary finish line. Press on today, even if you haven’t gotten all you wanted out of life yet.
Recognize that Christ has already obtained something for you. He’s outlined it, designated it, prepared it. You’re not creating your purpose from scratch—you’re receiving what He’s already secured for you. Ask Him to reveal what He’s prepared for you to take hold of.
Don’t let discouragement over what you haven’t accomplished stop your forward movement. Paul hadn’t arrived either, but he kept pressing on. The key isn’t arriving—it’s the pressing on. Keep serving God. Keep moving forward. Keep pursuing what Christ has called you to.
Live with the end in mind. The race is officially over when you die. Until then, accomplish everything God wants you to do in the meantime. Cross that finish line knowing you gave it all you had, not that you were perfect or accomplished everything on your bucket list.
Lord Jesus, thank You for taking hold of me and preparing something for me to take hold of in return. Thank You that success isn’t about arriving at some perfect destination but about pressing on toward the goal You’ve set before me. I confess that I’ve been discouraged because I haven’t gotten all I wanted out of life. I haven’t arrived yet, and sometimes I feel like I’m failing.
But if Paul—who accomplished so much for Your kingdom—still said he was pressing on, then I need to change my definition of success. Help me to focus on the goal and keep moving toward it, not on reaching some imaginary finish line where I finally feel like I’ve made it.
Show me what You’ve already obtained for me, outlined for me, designated for me. I receive it now. I take hold of what You’ve taken hold of for me. Don’t let me wait passively for it to fall into my lap—give me the strength and courage to press on and lay hold of it actively.
The race is officially over when I die. Until then, help me to accomplish everything You want me to do in the meantime. Let me cross the finish line knowing I gave it all I had—not that I was perfect, but that I kept pressing on faithfully until the end. In Your name, Amen.