October 16 – Letting Go of the Past

 

 

Philippians 3:13-14

"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."

SITREP:

What weighs you down more—the gear you carried in the field, or the memories you carry after? That’s what Paul’s hitting here. He’s writing from prison, reflecting on a life full of regrets and redemption. This is no empty motivation—this is a warrior who’s been broken and restored. And he’s giving you marching orders: stop letting your past write your future.

Breakdown of the Verse:

·         "Forgetting what is behind…" – Not erasing your history, but refusing to let it dictate your direction.

·         "…straining toward what is ahead…" – You don’t stumble into growth. You push for it. You train for it.

·         "I press on…" – This is battlefield language. You advance. You don’t retreat.

·         "…toward the goal…" – There’s a mission here. A calling. A prize worth more than medals and promotions.

How This Applies to a Soldier’s Faith:

You’ve lived through battles that never made the news. You’ve got scars that don’t show up on scans. Maybe some days you feel like you're still stuck in the fog of war—spiritually and emotionally. But Philippians 3 tells you this: you don’t have to live looking over your shoulder. God’s got a forward path laid out—and your job is to walk it.

Letting go of the past isn’t weakness. It’s warfare. It’s declaring that your identity isn’t locked in that one moment, that one decision, or that one deployment. You’re not who you were—you’re who God is forming you to be.

ENDEX:

You were never trained to stand still in a firefight. So why stay frozen in guilt or regret? Your Commander says the mission’s still active. The goal’s still in reach. You’re not done—you’re just getting started. Press on. Step forward. The prize ahead is bigger than anything behind.

AAR:

What are you still carrying from the past that’s slowing your advance? Philippians 3:13–14 lays it out like a mission objective: “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal…” Paul isn’t suggesting amnesia—he’s commanding focus. Combat demands forward momentum, not reflection on wounds, wins, or regrets. Your challenge: Identify one thing from your past that’s holding your attention hostage—then release it. It’s time to reengage the forward march with your eyes on the objective, not the debris behind you.

Drop the Dead Weight—Press Toward the Prize

This isn’t about denial—it’s about discipline. Paul knew the past could either be a prison or a platform, depending on what you do with it. Philippians 3:13–14 calls you to run like your life depends on the goal ahead—because it does. The mission isn’t in the rearview. It’s ahead, where Christ is calling you upward. So drop the baggage, disengage from yesterday, and press forward with resolve. You weren’t called to coast—you were called to press. That’s a soldier’s mindset: not distracted, not entangled, but locked in on the finish line. And the prize? It’s worth every step.

Make your voice count—share what you’ve lived.

Share your experiences in the comments below. Your words could encourage someone else walking a similar path.

If you're comfortable, include as much or as little personal detail as you’d like. We suggest:

• Name
• Veteran, Retired, Family Member etc.
• Service Branch
• Years of Service (or Deployment Dates and Locations)

Every story matters—and yours might be exactly what someone else needs to hear.