Human: An 8 Day Devotional by Mosaic MSCSample

LEAVING IT ALL

13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead 

Philippians 3:13 (NIV) 

As wild and carefree as Leaving It All feels, I love that this scripture is what inspired it.  As I’m reading this verse, I immediately connect with "not considering myself to have really gotten it yet." It’s so honest.  We all have goals and dreams for our life, and things we want to attain and become.  But so much of how we experience life and reality is in the form of a journey.  As you’re pursuing Jesus, He is so vast in His compassion, love and wonder that we couldn’t possibly take hold of all He’s done for us.  There is so much ahead to discover! 

What can hold us back is dwelling on our past.  The next part of the verse is telling us it’s possible to forget what is behind — and to pursue a future.  If you’re like me, actively trying to forget something only brings more attention to it.  How counterintuitive, right?  If I’m going to be running toward my future, I want to be fully consumed by Jesus’ love.  Straining ahead looks like shifting your focus, and releasing your grasp on the past.   

This song is a response to the freedom and joy we find in a relationship with Jesus: 

I would have nothing, if it wasn’t for you 

Beautiful one, beautiful one  

Look where we started, how far we’ve come 

I’m running after, after your love 

Leaving it all, to take hold of You, 

You and only You, it’s only You 

ACTION 

What would it look like to invite Jesus into your thoughts?  When something comes up that your mind usually dwells on, know that you’re not alone.  Ask Jesus to meet you there, and show you the way forward.  To become who you were created to be — and how you were created to be, fully alive.  There is so much beauty in the world.  By journeying with Him throughout life, we can step into what is ahead — the future.   

PRAYER 

Jesus, thank you for never giving up on me.  Thank you for all the good things, and for what I’ve learned from the past.  Help me to release what holds me back, and trust you with my life.  I want to step into the beautiful things you have ahead of me.  Amen.