Oct 26. Day 299 - Press toward the mark for the price. Philippians 3:13-14*

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14)

Brothers and sisters, welcome to another daily prayer. Pray with assurance and strive toward the goal of God's high calling. We can humbly acknowledge that we have not yet fully grasped everything that life has to offer. There is one essential principle that can guide us: we can choose to let go of our past—its successes and failures and we can strive to focus intently on the future and all the possibilities that lie ahead. With unwavering determination, we can pursue our goals, always aiming toward the ultimate reward of living a life aligned with God's high calling in Christ Jesus. This journey will fuel our spirit and inspire us to keep pressing forward, ever hopeful and committed to reaching the divine purpose set before us.

Transcript

Good morning, everyone. I hope your day's off to a great start. And I want to welcome you to another episode of our EBC Prayer Podcast.

Remember, I am your host. I am Dr. Victoria Haddad, the First Lady and Co-Pastor of Elyon Bible Church Apostolic in New Jersey. Today, I want to encourage you to have confidence and faith in the Lord.

Remember, God has done so much for us, and we can join with the song where they said, we can have faith, like whether it's with Moses, with David, with everyone who has gone ahead of us, we can have confidence in the Lord. No matter what life is throwing our way, we can rise up to the call that God has in place for us.

Our scripture today will be taken from Philippians 3:13-14. And it reads, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended, but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth on to those things which are before us. I press towards the mark for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. “

Today, God is encouraging us to press towards that mark.

Don't you give up on God, because he will not give up on you. 

So let us pray with confidence today. 

Lord, I thank you for reminding us that no matter where we are, or what's going through our lives or circumstances, we can have trust and faith in you.

For you are a wonderful Father. You are a mighty God. You are God who can do more for us than we can do for ourselves.

Help us to have hope in you, Lord. You have been through a lot. You struggle a lot. You suffer a lot. But that did not discourage you. That did not stop you, God, from praying. It did not let you give up on your own self. So help us, Lord, no matter what life is throwing our way, to have confidence in the God in whom we serve. This God, you have done so much for us.

Help us to be faithful. Help us to be holy. Help us to trust you, not give up on you, because you will never give up on us. Help us, Lord God, to look forward to the things you have set ahead of us, the plans you have for us, the blessings you have for us. We can have confidence in you. Like our scripture said, "Brethren, I count not myself to have comprehended, but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind.”

Sometimes, God, we're caught up in things that are behind, caught up in things that are not of you, caught up in things that are worldly. But today, God, we want to have confidence in the God in whom we serve, forgetting those things which are behind us and reaching forth for the things which you have set ahead of us. We want God to become the people of God you're destined for us to become.

We want to have confidence in you. We want to be like the leaders, God, who have been through so much in their lives, like the son, who says, God, we have Daniel in the lion's den, have confidence in the God he serves. We have Moses through God, who traveled for so many years, but he didn't give up on you.

Help us never to give up on you, God. And so, Lord God, we are trusting and depending upon you and asking you, God, to help us, Lord. To believe that with God we serve is holy, is powerful, is righteous, and will never give up on us.

So help us, Lord God, to have confidence in you and know that God, you will never let us down. And so we are praying today and asking you to give us the strength to press towards those marks that you have in your heart calling for us, Lord. Help us not to give up on you.

Whatever issues come our way, whatever mark the enemy chooses will help us to press towards the mark of God. Not to give up on you, because so many have standstill God. We know God as the songwriters, our leaders have stood still, and they did not give up on you.

And so, God, we are trusting you. David stood to that test. Even though he went through a lot, he stood the test and was able to reach his pure goal.

And so, Lord God, we are thanking you today. Help us to reach forward for the things you have said ahead of us. Help us to focus on the things that you have in store for us.

Help us not to fail God, not to give up on you, not to live a regretful life, Lord, but help us to accomplish the plan that you have in store for us. Help us, Lord God, to keep on pressing, keep on trusting you, keep on depending on you, keep on holding on to you. Help us, Lord God, not to get caught up in the things of this world, but to get caught up in you.

Draw us higher in you, God, and deeper our relationship with you, God. Give us the desire to be rooted and grounded in you, God, rooted and grounded in the things that pertain to righteousness. Help us to trust you wholeheartedly, serve you faithfully. Do the things that will draw us closer and closer to you every day. Help us never to give up on you, never to get caught up in the things of this world. Give us hope like Moses.

Give us strength, God. Give us a heart, Lord God, so we can stand strong. A heart that will love you and a heart that will surrender to you.

Lord God, we thank you for your word. We thank you for the songs. We thank you for everything we are praying and listening to today.

Lord, remember all those who are listening to this prayer podcast. Lord, we are praying for each and every one that will surrender fully to you, that will not give up on you, and that will not get rooted and grounded in the things of this world. But will trust the God in whom we serve, because he's a holy God, and a righteous God.

Cover us under your blood. Teach us how to pray. Teach us how to press towards the mark of the high calling of you, God, in our lives.

Help us, Lord God, to press, to pray, to surrender, and to let your will be accomplished in our lives. We thank you for this day. In your holy, mighty, and wonderful name we pray. Amen. 

Thank you, Lord. I want to encourage everyone who is praying today.

Don't give up on God, but keep on pressing, keep on surrendering, and let God's will be accomplished in your life. Have a great day. We will pray again tomorrow.