“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.”
—Philippians 3:12 (ESV)

There are seasons in every believer’s life when perseverance feels like a battle. The vision is clear, but the road is long. The calling is certain, yet the waiting tests our resolve. It’s in these moments that Paul’s words to the Philippians become both an anchor and a charge: “I press on.”

Paul didn’t claim perfection. He knew he hadn’t “arrived.” And yet he pursued Christ with relentless focus—not to earn Christ’s favor, but because he had been grasped by grace:

“…because Christ Jesus has made me His own.” (Philippians 3:12b)

The Christian life is not a passive drift; it’s a deliberate journey. God’s grace saves us and sustains us. But the call to press on is real. It requires obedience when we can’t see the whole picture, and worship when we feel weary.

Pressing On Means…

1. Continuing when you’re tired.

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
—Galatians 6:9

There’s a harvest coming. You may not see it today, but your labor in the Lord is never in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58). Rest if you must—but don’t quit.

2. Trusting when the way is unclear.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
—Proverbs 3:5–6

Your understanding has limits, but His wisdom is eternal. Pressing on is an act of trust—saying, “I don’t see, but I will still follow.”

3. Fixing your eyes on Jesus.

“…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith…”
—Hebrews 12:1b–2a

He not only called you—He’s running with you. He is both your strength and your prize.

4. Forgetting what lies behind.

“But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead…”
—Philippians 3:13

Guilt from past failures or comfort from past victories can hold you back. Let go of both. Fix your eyes forward—on Christ, on His call, on His Kingdom.

5. Holding fast to the promise.

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
—John 16:33

Your strength comes not from your circumstances but from your Savior. Pressing on is possible because Jesus has already overcome.

Questions for Meditation:

1. What has God called me to press toward in this season?

2. Where am I relying on my own strength instead of Christ?

3. How can I daily realign my focus on the upward call of God in Christ?