On My Way

I'm a  pretty impatient person. I don't like to wait for anything, and I'm a guy that enjoys instant results. That's just how I'm wired. Maybe it's because I'm a guy, or maybe it's escalated because of who I am, but I literally have to force myself to sit back and wait sometimes.

For instance, if my wife is somewhere and I know she'll be home at a certain time, it doesn't matter if I just talked to her, I will often call her and ask her where she's at. I may know she's already left to come home and on her way home, but I'm just impatient like that. (I've gotten better over the years) And her response is usually the same, "I'm on the way."Such a simple statement, that informs me that no, she hasn't arrived yet, but she's working as well as she can to get there.

"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." (Philippians 3:13,14, NASB)

Paul is discussing here his future destination. He's encouraging the people of Philipi not to quit, not to give up, and not to abandon their way of living for God because they are "on the way." It's easy for people today to look at their pastor, leader, or spouse and think that they "are there", and have arrived. It's really, honestly, even easy to get frustrated that we aren't there yet. Almost like riding in a car for a long period of time, and sometimes you just get tired of riding in the car. But you keep going because you still aren't there!

Where is there? "For our citizenship is in heaven..." (Philippians 3:20)
There is heaven. There is our eternal place in the presence of God our Creator, maker, and Father. How do we get there? "Forget what lies behind and reach forward to what lies ahead. Press on toward the goal for the prize..."

Leader, mother, father, pastor, friend... don't you quit! Don't give up! It's not easy, but it's worth it. Your ride to your destination may have more bumps, traffic lights, and detours than mine, but neither of us have arrived yet... we are still "on the way". The beauty of this journey is this: when it seems difficult for us to continue riding, continue pressing on, and reaching for that goal... God promises to be there to hear us, help us, and love us anyway! God wants to help you get there. Will you let Him?

What is making your trip so difficult? Why?
Take a moment and offer it to God in prayer. Ask for His help, wisdom, guidance, and lead.
Make a reminder not to give up and stop living your life for Him. (write the scripture somewhere you will see it, make up your own ideas...)

I believe your ride is about to get better!