Don't Look Back

Philippines 3:7-14


7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

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.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.

Tonight, as I was was reading these verses God showed me something new. When we say we want to have God, his Holy Spirit inside of us, there was to be a surrender. There has to be a sacrifice. You might need to sacrifice friends, the boyfriend/girlfriend, desires, bad habits, your attitude, etc. There is no short cuts when it comes to seeking the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Once you are determined to sacrifice and surrender your life on the Alter of God, you cannot turn back. Don't turn back to what you sacrificed. Don't turn back to how your life was before you made the decision. Don't look back by picturing how your life will be if you decided to go back on your decision. Never look back. Once you surrender your life, don't look back or to what you left behind, look forward. Keep your eyes on the prize which is the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Don't look to how much or how much you sacrificed because no matter how hard it was to sacrifice friendships, habits, etc. , none of those things compare of how much more you will gain with Holy Spirit.
If you look back, you will open a door for the devil, which is the temptation to run back.

If you focus your eyes, and all of your strength to receive the gift, you will find it sooner then you think.


So, what will it be?