Don’t look back! Look straight ahead!

I believe that gaining success in life is up for grabs for anyone. I think that it really doesn’t matter whether we are born in a rich or a poor family, for I have seen and heard that there are people who experienced the “Cinderella story” happened in their lives. No doubt, many had become unsuccessful, as it is very visible in our world. Now if anyone can be successful in their lives, then what keeps the people from gaining success?

What keeps people from gaining success in their lives, I believe, is the past. Well it is mainly because that is the only place where failures dwells in. We must know that our failures could greatly affect our future if we keep looking at it. Living in the past can make us stop from attaining our goal. Getting bombarded by our failures will hinder us from growing, learning, and living. Our mindset determines where we are going. And if we set our minds on failing, then that’s where we are destined to. But what should we do if we want to become successful?

“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

We all know that Apostle Paul had become successful in his Christian life, and here in this verse, he shared to us the secret of his success. I believe that this secret is not just applicable to our Christian lives, but to any ministry we are in; whether in sports, or in our work, or in our studies. Well what are these secrets shown in this verse?

First is forgetting what is behind. As I have said earlier, past is the dwelling place of failures. If we really want to gain success, then we must leave that one thing that could hinder us from gaining it. Christ has already redeemed us from these failures, for he had carried them all when he was crucified. This is something that we must all remember: In Christ, we are destined to overcome, and not to fail.

Second is straining toward what is ahead and pressing towards the goal. To gain success, our goal must be clearly drawn and set to our mind. As I have said earlier, our mindset determines where we are going. And if we set our minds to become successful in our Christian lives, or in the other things we do, then that is where we are headed to. But setting our minds to the goal isn’t enough, though. We must work hard and strive to attain that goal. And these are the secret to success.


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