Champion Athletes Know How To Do This

​ Philippians 3:13-14 - Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. NASU 

• Forget Their Past 

The apostle Paul was informing Christians how he lived and he says he forgets what lies behind or in other words he forgets his past.
 
I could not agree with Paul more. If you are going to be successful in life you are going to have to forget your past. If you are going to grow spiritually in Christ you have to forget your past sins.
 
The devil will try and bring up every past sin you have ever committed and try desperately to make you believe you are totally unworthy of salvation and you need to give up trying to get to Heaven.
 
He is correct we are totally unworthy of salvation that is why we have two great words we always want to remember from God's Word.
 
They are MERCY and GRACE.
 
God has shown us mercy and extends to us grace and in so doing He doesn't give us what we deserve an eternity in hell. He gives us eternal life in Heaven with Him. 

• Athletes Know You Have To Forget 

They say what makes a great quarterback in football is he can forget the pass that was intercepted before he throws his next pass. They say a running back can forget he fumbled the ball on his last carry.
 
What makes a great high school or college wrestler is they have the ability to forget their last match if it were a loss.
 
I would like to expand upon this idea of "forgetting" your last mistake and include in it forgetting your last victory as well.
 
If you're going to be really great you need to forget your last victory and start doing whatever it takes to secure your next victory. You can't stay thinking about what you have done was so great. You must start preparing to win your next match. 

• Journalist Have It Wrong 

I have read where some journalist have made the statement a certain wrestler who won his weight division is coming back to defend his title. No, he is not. This is not the WWE or the MMA.
 
Every tournament is completely separate.
 
I know if I were a coach I would be telling my wrestler you are not defending anything. This is a new year and a new tournament.
 
YOU FORGET WHAT YOU DID LAST YEAR.
 
You stay focused on what you are going to do this year. 

• Christians Forget Your Past 

If you're a Christian I want you to forget your past mistakes and your past victories. I want you to stay focused on hearing those words "enter in my faithful servant".
 
What are you going to do today to help you secure another victory for Christ?
 
Think About This:
 
Most people would rather look backward than forward because it is easier to remember where you've been than to figure out where you're going.

Stay Pumped,
 
Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word