Forgetting Our Past and Reaching for God’s Prize

We Are Still a Work in Progress

In Philippians 3:12–14, Paul talks like a runner in a race. He says he has not “already obtained it” and has not “already become perfect.” He knows he is still growing. He is not done yet.

This is a good truth. None of us are done. We all still sin. We still fail. We still need help. But like Paul, we can press on. We can keep walking with God. We can keep learning and changing.

As we run this race, we must learn forgetting our past in the right way. If we always look back, we will trip. If we keep staring at old sins or old wins, we will not move well into what God has next.

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Forgetting Our Past: Sin and Shame

When Paul says “forgetting what lies behind,” he does not mean he cannot remember anything. He clearly remembers his past. He remembers how he hurt the church (1 Timothy 1:13–16). But he does not let that past rule his soul.

In Jesus, our sins are forgiven. God takes them away “as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12). He says, “Their sins… I will remember no more” (Hebrews 10:17). This does not mean God cannot recall them. It means He will not hold them against us.

So forgetting our past means we choose to believe God’s word about our sin. We stop beating ourselves up for what Jesus has already paid for. We stop letting shame tell us who we are. Instead, we say, “I am in Christ now. I am washed. I am new.”

If we fail again, we run back to Him. We confess. We turn. We trust that His blood is enough. Then we get up and walk on with Him. We do not stay stuck on the ground.

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Forgetting Our Past: Old Wins and Old Ways

We also need to let go of some “good” things from the past. Old wins can stop us from new growth. If we only talk about what God did in us ten years ago, we may miss what He wants to do today.

In the story of Israel in the desert, God gave manna each day (Exodus 16). Old manna would rot. In the same way, God gives fresh help and grace each day. We cannot live only on stories from long ago.

So forgetting our past also means we hold lightly to old seasons, even sweet ones. We thank God for them. We learn from them. But we do not cling so hard that we say no to new steps of faith. God may lead us to serve in new ways, talk to new people, or walk through new trials.

When we loosen our grip on the past, we can hold on to what God has for us now.

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Reaching Forward to God’s Prize

Paul says, “forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal” (Philippians 3:13–14). He leans forward like a runner aiming for the finish line.

The “upward call of God in Christ Jesus” is both now and later. Now, God calls us to grow in love, kindness, truth, and holiness. Later, He will call us home. We will rise. We will see Jesus. We will be with Him forever.

In light of this, forgetting our past and reaching forward go together. We throw off heavy weights (Hebrews 12:1–2). We lay down old guilt. We lay down pride. We lay down fear. Then we run. We keep our eyes on Christ.

Philippians 1:6 gives us strong hope. It says God will finish the good work He began in us. He will not quit on us. He will shape us day by day to be more like Jesus.

So do not give up. Each morning, receive His new mercy (Lamentations 3:22–23). Each day, ask Him to help you walk by His Spirit (Galatians 5:16). Each step, look ahead, not back. As you do, you will see that forgetting our past does not erase your story. It places your story in God’s hands. He turns even your worst days into part of His good plan as He leads you toward His prize in Christ.

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