Set your sights

"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, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13,14

When American runner, Galen Rupp, decided to attempt "the Olympic double" by competing in the 10,000 meters and the marathon, he had his "sights set on" bringing home two medals. But after a disppointing fifth-place finish in the 10k race Saturday, Rupp had this to say, "I came in here knowing it would be hard to do both, but I wanted to give it a shot. Now I’ll give myself tonight to be upset about this, but after that it’s full-steam ahead. You gotta have a short memory in this sport sometimes, and I’m just going to be focused on recovery.. getting ready to have another race.”

By choosing to quickly forget the past and concentrate on the future, I would say that Galen has greatly increased his chances of taking hold of that next prize he has his "sights set on", the men's Marathon on August 21. In order to "win the prize for which" God called Paul to, he also knew the importance of forgetting the past. You see he had held the coats of those who had stoned Stephen, the first Christian martyr, to death and was responsible for the imprisonment and persecution of many more Christians. But that was the past and Paul knew he was forgiven. And he also knew that if he was to move toward what was ahead and the amazing things God had planned for him now, that past needed to stay in the past. 

If we're honest, we would all admit to having done things for which we are ashamed of, things keeping us from being the person we are called to be. But that was then and this is now-that was the old you! So today, right now and wherever you may be, make the choice to keep the past in the past and move forward to victory.

Heavenly Father, thank you for loving us so much that, no matter what we have done or what we have failed to do, that if we ask for forgiveness you would forgive us and give us a new life. Knowing that, may we have very short memories and set our sights on forgetting what is behind and pressing on towards the goal. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

www.team413.org

That was then, this is now - Josh Wilson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tutZkXDSalo

http://www.runnersworld.com/olympics/galen-rupp-you-gotta-have-a-short-memory-in-this-sport-sometimes