Charity Autry, Member since 2008, Families in Faith Sunday School Leader, Starting Point Leader, VBS Chair (Children’s Ministry Council)

Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV)

 13 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, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 

Reflection:

I love cooking shows. Last week I was watching Feed Phil, a light-hearted Netflix foodie show. Phil Rosenthal, the host, takes you to different countries to show you the best foods and culture where he is visiting. In this episode, he was in Vietnam. I am paraphrasing, but he said there is a Vietnamese saying, “don’t let your war define you.” The notion is to not dwell too much on the past, but keep moving forward. 

Do you have a “war” that has defined you? Have you lived through something so difficult that it continues to impact your day-to-day? My past “war” defined me for a very long time. I was angry and lashed out at those around me, a Type-A perfectionist trying to control everything. A therapist would tell you these are typical coping mechanisms. However, they were not serving me well. I needed a change.

I used to think the big threshold, change, in my life was when I graduated high school and went to Texas A&M University (Whoop!). I did not have a picture-perfect upbringing and going to college, being in charge of my own destiny felt liberating. I thought my whole future depended on my efforts and smarts. I was in control! I graduated top of my class, got a job. I knew it all, I was in control! I got married, I had kids, I survived the toddler phase. I knew it all, I was in control! Any of these moments could have been a pivotal transition in my life. I was definitely pressing forward, in control, and not letting my “war” define me, right?    

Wrong. My war was defining me and I didn’t like it. I was pressing forward for survival or the next goal. Sadly, looking back I was not pressing forward to God. There was not a pivotal moment I made a change. It was a gradual change over the last 10-15 years. My husband and I started attending church regularly, attending Sunday School classes, volunteering and attending Bible studies. All of these changes began to build a better understanding of the word of God. Slowly, I began to let go of the control and give it up to God. Like Paul said I needed to make a choice to press forward “toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” I am not perfect, but I pray and remind myself I have the decision to make each day, in any circumstance.

Paul is a wonderful example of how we can press forward. Paul isn’t the only one, the bible is full of people with their own personal “wars” and their stories of pressing forward. I pray you can look at the events in your past or present that you are letting define you and press forward to something greater. The prize of Jesus Christ. 

Prayer: 

Dear God, thank you so much for the teachings of Paul. Thank you for reminding me that life is not perfect and is full of struggles. I am no different than my ancestors. Thank you, God, for giving us the Bible so we know how to navigate the “wars” in our lives and not let them define us. Amen.