For those of you who don’t know by now, I walk almost every morning. It’s practically oxygen to me at this point. I need that time. In fact, I have found very few things that a good walk can’t help. Walking helps me in all sorts of ways – physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually. As part of my walking, I like to set different goals for myself. This keeps it interesting and challenging and let’s me focus on different benefits.
When I started my regular walks a few years ago, I downloaded an app to keep track of my various stats. There is a feature within the app that encourages you to “beat the year.” The object is to walk kilometers to match the year. So, the goal is to walk 1,021 kilometers in 2021. I usually achieve that with no problem.
Last year, I decided to up that. My goal was to walk 1,000 miles. I did it. Yay me and all that. Then I decided that a thousand miles should be my standard goal every year. So, that’s what I’m trying to do in 2021. Quick pause to say that I have friends who consistently pass this mark. Big props to those of you who tally up those miles. Also, big props to those of you who set and achieve goals of any kind, big or small. They should be celebrated.
Moment of truth, I’m probably not going to reach it this year. I just hit my 500-mile mark this week. You don’t have to be a math whiz to know I’m pacing behind, and it won’t get any easier as I walk deeper into the year. There have been appointments, weather, injuries, and too many days when I just couldn’t squeeze in enough miles to keep pace. However, as I have been continuing to churn out miles in the last few days, I’ve been thinking about what we do when it looks like the goal is out of reach.
I’ll tell you what I’m going to do regarding my 1,000 goal – I’m going to keep trying even though it seems unrealistic at this point. I may not reach it, but I won’t quit on it. God put that on my heart for a reason. I can’t help but think that it’s good practice for far more important goals. Like Heaven.
“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12-14, NKJV)
Our job, friends, is to press on toward the goal. Pressing on is more than just continuing. According to Merriam-Webster it’s moving forward in a forceful, steady, determined way. Paul compared life to a race multiple times. He used athletes as examples. It’s good imagery. If athletes aren’t determined to win then they probably won’t. If we aren’t really determined to live for Christ, we probably won’t. The challenges we face, the pushback from the world and people who just think we’re crazy, the goals that seem too far – they’ll claim us as victims along the way.
Perhaps it’s just me that needs the reminder today, but we sure won’t reach the goal without pressing on when it looks unreachable. Life is an unrelentingly hard race. But the prize of Heaven is very real. The good news is that you don’t have to be fast. No matter what Satan is trying to convince you of, you don’t have to beat anyone. You’re the only one in your race. Not everyone will appreciate you effort, however, some of us will clap and cheer wildly for you. If you’re fortunate, you’ll find some people who will run the hard parts with you.
We each have our own race to complete and need to find our own determination. We must keep pressing on toward the goal when it seems impossible. Especially when it seems impossible. The prize of eternity with Jesus is worth it.
Comments
Press on…your post has re-energized me!! Thank you. 🌟