"Goin"

Going down that lonesome road,

With trouble on my mind,

What God said, ‘bout the miles ahead,

And those I’ve left behind.

Thoughts of time and places,

And people I have known,

Horses rode and sometimes throwed,

And ways that I have grown.

Some I’ll never see again,

This side of the grave,

No good-bye, and it’s no lie,

Wished more time I gave.

Some I loved with all my heart,

But found no way to please,

The only way, to be okay,

Was find God’s free release.

I think of conversations,

With words so sweet and good,

Time to spend, with Mom again,

If only that I could.

Memories and God’s own peace,

To reign within my heart,

Still time to do, before it’s through,

By grace fulfill my part.

‘Cause this road is not over,

Still some ways to go,

Depending on, to make me strong,

The Spirit’s awesome flow.

Still some time to flip a coil,

And step on up and ride,

Thankful be and joyfully,

In God’s good grace abide.

Going down that lonesome road,

But it will be all right,

My restless mind, by grace to find,

How to travel in the light.

I’ve left behind the heavy weights,

‘Cause Jesus said I could,

And the best, He is my rest,

Every mile He’s stood,

Solid as my Savior,

My healer and my friend,

Arms round me, so close you see,

And will be till the end.

“…I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize…” (Philippians 3:13-14, NLT)

How could Paul say he forgot the past? We all know this is literally impossible. Yet he claimed he forgot the past so that he could press on toward his God-given future. What did he mean by this? He meant that when he remembered his history, it did not steal his destiny. He was oblivious to the control of the past, and would not allow it to hinder him in any way. He learned from the past, but did not get bogged down in yesterday. He stayed focused on what the Lord was telling him about today and tomorrow. This may be one of the most powerful things he ever said and certainly one that is life-changing. What do we need to “forget” so that we can press on?

Lord, help us focus today and tomorrow, and press on till the end, in Jesus’ name.

Photo by Michael Magill, michaelmagillphotography.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Michael, and God bless you.