Let’s Press Toward the Mark and Finish Strong: 2023

Apostle Paul likened the Christian life to an athletic race in the Olympic games. He portrayed it as a race of endurance and perseverance, of dedication and commitment. Paul’s writing to the Philippians, as translated in the American Standard Version of the Bible, says:

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“Brethren, I count not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before, I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).

The Goal of Pressing Towards the Mark

Paul tells us that the goal of our “pressing toward the mark” is to win the prize of the “High Calling of God.” He pressed hard with diligence to attain the call of God on His life. And towards the end of his great ministry, he said that he had not achieved this goal yet.

If Paul had not attained the mark and was still pressing toward it, how much more should we? He encourages us to forget the things which are behind us. This is so we do not become content and complacent; or condemned, frustrated, and disappointed. So, on the contrary, we would keep pushing and stretching toward the goals set before us.

In this blog, we’ll explore what it means to press on in the Christian race and how to finish strong. We will learn practical tips for spiritual self-discipline, the importance of forgetting issues of the past, and the need for perseverance. So let’s begin pressing toward the mark and finish strong!

What it Means to Press Toward

The word “press” used by the Apostle in this admonition means to pursue with a vigorous passion. There’s even an element of desperation and urgency in it and even a slight amount of violence. We are to press toward the goal as a runner pushes himself toward the finish line, stretching and striving toward the finish line to win the prize. The Biblical basis for “pressing toward the mark” is be found in Philippians 3:14 (KJV):

“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” This verse is a call to action, encouraging believers to strive toward the goal, the finish line of becoming like their Lord Jesus Christ, the Author and Finisher of their faith.

What is the ‘Mark’?

The mark is the finish line, the goal. In the Olympic games, the mark is the white line at the finishing end of the track. And the prize is won after the athlete successfully crosses this white line. For us Christians, the goal is to continue to run according to the rules and reach the finish line. Therefore run with all earnestness and strive to reach the mark. The mark is our destination, and it is the ultimate finish line for every child of God.

Where is the Christian’s Destination?

From the advice of Paul, as we run the race, we are to keep our eyes on the mark for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ. Similarly, the Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews also uses the Athletic race metaphor to describe the Christian life.

However, the instruction given in the Hebrews’ Epistle is more vivid. It places us in an athletic arena. And in this arena, there is a ‘cloud of witnesses’ or sports spectators watching our race as we run. To get a clearer picture, let’s read the text from the English Standard Version of the Bible:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight,” and the sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1 ESV).

Our Goal is to Become the Image of Christ Jesus, He is our Destination

In other words, we are surrounded by spectators watching our race. And this Epistle to the Hebrews specifically tells us to keep our eyes on Jesus as we press toward the finish line. The second verse of Hebrews 12 continues:

“looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (ESV).

Therefore, Jesus is the ‘Mark,’ our ‘Goal’, and the ‘Finish line’ of the believer’s race. He is the Author and Finisher of our faith.

“On Your Mark!, Get Set, GO!”

When you hear, ‘On your mark!’ You know all participants in a race are at the ‘Start Line.’ right?

Next, you expect to hear, ‘Get set!‘ followed by, GO!

In the Christian race, all the participants in the race are in Christ. Which means you cannot be running the Christian race unless you’re a child of God. Because He is the ‘Starting Line’ of the race; for He is the Alpha, the Beginning; and we all start the race in Him. In addition, He is the First participant; the first one to run this race, and the First and only to complete it perfectly. Paul, in sharing his passion, is encouraging us to fix our eyes on Him. He tells us not to look back. We are to shut out all distractions and keep looking forward, pressing ahead, straining forward to cross the finish line and reach our goal of becoming like Christ.

Jesus is the perfect example of how to live a godly life and have daily communion with the Father.

He demonstrated to us how to focus on the goal, press toward the mark, and finish strong. The Bible says that He pressed on and endured the cross and its associated shame for the joy set before Him. The joy set before Him is the satisfaction and rejoicing that our salvation will bring Him. Because of this, He pressed on and crossed the finish line. Therefore, God exalted Him, He won the prize, and also became the author of eternal salvation for all and is seated at the right hand of the Throne of God.

What does it mean to “press toward the mark” in this Christian Race?

In a spiritual context, pressing toward the mark is the exertion of energy toward reaching the goals and objectives of one’s spiritual life. It is the intentional decision of a dedicated Christian to strive toward reaching the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:13). To press toward the mark is to pursue God with earnestness and diligence, to follow Him and press hard with all our energy and strain forward to reach the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

First, we must purge ourselves of worldly and carnal desires and be focused on Him. We must be overtaken by the desire to know Him and His ways.

The Ultimate Pursuit: That I May Gain Christ and Be Found in Him

Paul’s prayer in verse 10 of the Bible passage (Phil 3:10) is that he might have an intimate knowledge of Jesus Christ. This was where he started this meditation on the Christian race. In the preceding verses, He told us that he’s of the circumcision that worshipped God in the spirit and had no confidence in the flesh. His confidence with regard to the race was not in the flesh. He explained that his confidence did not lie in the fact that he was:

Circumcised on the 8th day hence a covenant descendant of Abraham.
A descendant of Jacob, an Israelite.
From the tribe of Benjamin.
A Hebrew of Hebrews.
Top-notch Pharisee
A zealous defender of the law.
Finally, a sincere follower of righteousness under the law

Paul Considered Worldly Gain as Rubbish

He continued and said, “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord. For his sake, I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith” (Phil 3:7-9).

To Paul, the ultimate pursuit is not in these high-sounding ministries, which might bring him to gain but cannot bring him to the knowledge of Christ nor get him to the high calling of God.

Paul’s Passion: That I May Know Him

And so Paul poured out the cry of his heart:

“that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and

The Empty Tomb of Jesus with the stone rolled away, symbolizing the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead” (verse 10).

May the goal of knowing Christ Jesus and ultimately becoming like Him be our pursuit in this Christian race in the Name of the Lord Jesus. Amen.

10 Secrets of Running the Christian Race Well

Here are ten tips to help you stay focused and motivated on the road to success:

1. Keep Your Eyes on JESUS, and You will Become like Him

We are called to fix our eyes on Jesus. The scripture says we should “lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us…[to] run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1, 2). He has overcome. Therefore, we can overcome through Him. As we keep our eyes on Him, He will change us to become like Him.

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit” This is an important revelation to understand and dwell on.

Call to Action:

Keep your eyes on Jesus. Continue to look into His Face. As you do, you will be transformed into the image of the One you are looking at. You will become like Him. That is the Finish Line and our Final Destination.

2. Forget Those Things that things of the Past

One of the golden rules for any runner in any type of race is: “Don’t look back”. God’s word to us is as it was to Israel, “Speak unto the children of Israel that they go forward” (Ex 14:15). God wants us to keep looking and marching forward and never backward.” Remember Lot’s wife (Luke 17:32).

Likewise, for us in this race, we are to fix our eyes toward the goal. Too often, we forget to keep our eyes on Jesus. When this happens, it can lead to fear and doubt. The key is to keep your mind on His words, and your faith will rise. Remind yourself of His promises to strengthen you. And when you do, you’ll be able to press forward and finish strong.

3. Lay Aside Every Weight

Our Master, the Lord and Mediator of the New Testament who Himself completed this race before He gave us this advice through Paul the Apostle. The admonition is for us to “Lay aside every weight, and the sin which clings so closely” to us (ESV), or similarly, to “strip off every weight that slows us down” (NLT). After these, to run the race with endurance (Heb 12:1). It’s because these weights will drag us down, reduce our speed to a crawl. Besides these, the weight will create a distraction that can totally pull us off track and get us disqualified from getting the prize.

Many times we get distracted because of current stressfull challenges and, more often than not, the cares of this world. Therefore, let us strip off all these weights, lay aside, and run the race with patience.

4. Understand What You’re Up Against

These are four of the hindrances you will face when you determine to press toward the mark. They are:

First, fear of failure, God has not given us the spirit of fear, we overcome fear by His word, by faith that works by love
Second, lack of faith in your own faith, Have a personal retreat in the Word, Meditation & Prayer
Third, the temptation to give up.
Finally, Lack of zeal or motivation (love grown cold) – Need a revival

No matter how strong your willpower is, you cannot overcome these hindrances on your own. But we can overcome them by drawing strength from God

Are there any Obstacles that Can prevent me from reaching my goal?

Question: Are there any obstacles or challenges that could prevent me from reaching my goals related to “pressing towards the mark”?

Answer: Yes, there are several obstacles and challenges you may face while attempting to reach the mark of success. Some of these obstacles that could hinder your progress include:

Limited resources: Without the right resources and a plan of action, achieving goals can be difficult.
Next, Time constraints: Many times, our lives get too busy with commitments and obligations, leaving us with little time for our own dreams and aspirations.
Third, Fear of failure: This is a common obstacle that keeps many of us from taking risks and trying new things in pursuit of our goals.
Finally, Lack of motivation: We all need some form of motivation to keep pushing ourselves toward the finish line. With the lack of motivation, we could end up losing direction or the passion needed to cross the finish line.

Let’s therefore, seek God for frequent seasons of refreshing to keep the fire burning.

5. Don’t Take the Easy Road, Beat Temptations By Training and Running Harder

Today we have a generation that delights in fast food, fast cars, easy A, and “instant” millionaires. In the days gone by, our parents taught us to work hard and that “there’s no free lunch.” But the generation today expects free coupons for every lunch and even a free packed take-away in case they’re hungry later on.

Let’s make sure this is not the case in the Church. In other words, we should be diligent in seeking God. We should be fervent in prayers, competent soldiers of Christ. Every one of us should be Bootcamp trained by the Lord of Hosts, Who “teaches our hands to war and our fingers to fight.” Are you one of these? If you’re not yet, read on; And read several other articles on this site.

Salvation is Free, but Running the Race will Cost you a Bunch

Do not settle for easy, cost-me-nothing Christianity. It is true; Salvation is the gift of God. It is free for you and me. But it cost Jesus Christ everything.

Yes, becoming a new creation in Christ is free, but growing and running the race set before us is not. And the harder you train and obey the Commander, the better your race will be. Therefore, If you desire to overcome trials, temptations, and distractions along the road in this race, listen and obey the Commander-Coach, train more frequently, and run harder.

By training regularly, we can improve our overall spiritual fitness and condition. This will help overcome fatigue or breakdown during the race. So let’s train like a soldier in the Bootcamp, and let’s press forward toward the goal.

6. The Need For Perseverance in the Christian Race

As Christians, we are called to persevere in the race of life. We are often faced with difficult and stressful situations. Sometimes these situations drag on for a long and painful period of time. Therefore, the Bible is telling us to train ourselves by the Word of God and prayer in perseverance like a marathon runner training for the Olympics.

Persevere Despite Challenges

Starting a new project can be daunting, but it’s important to persevere. Even the most difficult challenges can be overcome with the right attitude and the right motivation. Here are five tips to help you persevere:

1. Visualize the end result and keep pushing forward.

2. Set realistic goals and don’t overshoot them.

3. Stay positive and believe in yourself.

4. Stay organized and maintain a planner to track your progress.

5. Get help from others when you need it – it will help you stay on track and reach your goals faster.

7. Refocusing When You Get Stuck or Discouraged

Sometimes the journey to success is hard, and the road ahead seems daunting. However, the key is to keep your focus on the Lord and refocus on the task at hand. When you get stuck or discouraged, remember the following tips:

First, Take some time for yourself to wait on the Lord and rejuvenate. (Read LINK)
Second, Keep your goals in perspective and stay focused on the goal at hand. Don’t be distracted
Third, Persevere and don’t give up. Hold on to your confession of faith. You will reap very soon if you don’t give up

By following these simple tips, you can keep your head high and press onward to the mark.

8. Rely on God’s Strength, You Will Run and Not Grow Weary

The word of the Lord came to Zechariah the prophet saying: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts

Keep this Word with you always. Your strength may fail, and it’s possible you will find yourself flat on your back. Remember, your help and your strength are coming from the Lord. Therefore, your strength and stamina will be inexhaustible. For thus says the Lord:

“Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:30-31) (Read more on this at– this link)

9. Seek First the Kingdom of God

Make God’s Kingdom your number one priority. Let Christ be the center of all your life pursuits.

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matt 6:33). There’s no room for complacency in the world of athletics. In the same way, that top performer in any field continuously strive for progress and improvement, so must we as spiritual athletes running for the prize of the high calling of God. . This is why it’s so important to refocus on the prize every once in a while. What is the prize, you ask? The prize is the achievement of our ultimate goal.

10. Finally, Cast Off Carnality and Sprint to the Finishing Line

In the end, it’s all about finishing the race the way Christ completed His. He is our example, the First and the Last, the Author and Finisher of our race. Our ultimate goal is to become like Him and to be transformed into His image. He is our Finish Line. Paul encourages us to press toward this goal as intensely as a runner pushes forward to cross the finish line.

A runner would drop anything he or she is wearing that may weigh him down or create the minutest wind resistance or drag as he runs. His eyes and mind are on getting to that end zone. That’s where the gold medal is, and he’s determined to win it. So he will cast off every bit of hindrance, including conveniences, cosmetics, baggy pants, and beautiful air-gears. In the same manner, we believers, whose goal is to reach the mark of the high calling of God, must cast all these off so we can ‘fix our eyes on Jesus, our example in this race.

Many things we associate with Church and Ministry today are actually things we have put together to glorify man. We are more or less carnally minded. Below is Paul’s passion and the context of this blog.

Paul’s Ultimate Pursuit

Let’s read what Paul says his ultimate passion is:

“that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Then, he continued to the verses which we had been discussing, saying:

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. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and strain forward to what lies ahead

Finally, he made the statement that reveals his ultimate passion and desire:

I press on toward the goal of the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way.

May God reveal this to the heart of everyone that read this page; Amen.

Practical Steps Toward Finishing Strong

it’s the beginning of the journey toward success.

So, instead of looking back, let’s press forward and finish strong. This is the attitude that will lead us to our goals, and the journey will be more rewarding that way.

The final leg of a race is always the hardest. So, what do you do when the going gets tough? You press onward and determine to finish strong by drawing on God’s Strength.

1. Count the Cost and Plan the Race well

First, make a quality decision to run the race through to the end. Decide to follow Jesus all the way, no matter what. Your salvation did not cost you anything. But this race will cost you. The Lord Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).

Therefore, count the cost of following the Lord and dedicate your life to the cause of the gospel. This is necessary to achieve this goal of crossing the finish line successfully.

Set goals to run the race well. Without goals, it’s easy to get lost and give up. But don’t worry, the process of setting and attaining goals is easier than you think. Here are five steps to help you get started:

1. Define your goals.

2. Write them down in a clear and concise manner.

3. Break the goal down into smaller, attainable goals.

4. Set a deadline for each of the smaller goals.

5. Thanksgiving to God and Celebrate your successes along the way.

By following these simple steps, you’ll be on your way to finishing strong.

2. Run according to the rules

Second, in the 9th Chapter of the Epistle to the Corinthians, Paul continues his lesson for us on the Christian’s race. Here he admonishes us to run the race to win. The New Living Translation renders the passage as saying:

“Don’t you realize that in a race, everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others, I myself might be disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:24).

3. Make Consistent progress

Then, if you are looking to deepen your relationship with God, here are some practical tips that can help.

First, – Pray Every Day: Take a few moments of the day to talk to God in prayer and worship. Express your gratitude and lay your requests before Him.

Second, – Read the Bible: Spend time reading the bible each day and meditating on the scriptures to draw closer to the Lord.

Third, –Make godly friends: Having godly friends who love the Lord, is an effective way to stay strong in your faith and deepen your relationship with Him.

Fourth, – Serve the Body of Christ: Serve the brethren. Do not forsake the gathering of God’s people. Participate in that which builds up and makes the Body of Christ stronger. Help your brothers and sisters in Christ when they are in need.

Fifth- Practice Forgiveness: Forgiveness is key when it comes to freeing ourselves from unnecessary baggage that will definitely slow us down in the race. In other words, when we forgive, we do ourselves a favor. Therefore, we should be quick to forgive others of their wrongs against us whether they ask for it or not.

Next, – Be an Example of a ‘Believer who Walks in Faith and is Full of Joy’ (Joy of the Lord): Model the scripture-“the Joy of the Lord is my Strength.” Let your faith be an upliftment for those in trouble so their faith can also rise and thereby causing them to overcome their circumstances

Finally, – Practice Gratitude & Thankfulness: Take the time to appreciate God’s grace and mercy and show thankfulness for all His blessings.

4. Endure Hardship as a Good Soldier of Christ

The fourth secret has to do with hardship. The Bible in 2 Timothy 2:3 admonishes us to brace ourselves for the race. It reads: “You, therefore, must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” Prepare yourself for the battle, so you’re not taken by surprise.

Therefore, “prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world” ( 1 Peter 1:13, NLT). King James Translation renders this message from Peter’s Epistle as saying: “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober”

5. Sprint to the Finish Line

We must follow after and pursue with vigor the goal line, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God (Heb 12:2). Our Master Himself pressed toward the mark and won the price of the High Calling of God.

As we continue in this race, we must never stop nor take a break until we reach the finish line and must run according to the rules. Taking a vacation will stall our momentum and make it very difficult to resume our normal motion.

We must, like marathon runner, reaches for the finish line and press forward even with our last breath for the price of this high calling. It is important for us to give everything and do everything in our power to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His suffering so we can be found in His likeness.

How can I practically apply this concept to my everyday life?

The best way to practically apply a concept to your everyday life is by first taking the time to study, pray, and meditate on God’s word regarding it until you get an understanding of it in your heart. And you’ll be able to react to the situation naturally by it. Therefore, do the following to help apply the secrets discussed above in daily life.

To Apply the Concept of Finishing Strong to Overcome Issues in Everyday Life

Read and study God’s word, the scriptures of truth on the goal. –Faith comes from hearing God’s word
Speak the words you’ve read to yourself. –Confessing God’s word in your hearing will boost your faith.
Meditate on them (think about them in an atmosphere of prayer and worship)
Think ahead of issues or situations in which such will be needed and walk through how you will tackle them by God’s word and His special grace and power — that is, simulate the issue in your mind and work through the solution.
Pray for God’s power to help you if and when such an issue confronts you. — Because victory will not come by human power nor by might but by the graces of the Spirit in your life.
Finally, make it a habit to be slow to respond whenever you are hit with any difficult, strange, or unexpected circumstance of life to give your inner man time to respond with the word of God, as discussed above. This way, you will be able to tackle and overcome the issues of life.

(Read more on this from HOW TO FIGHT THE FIGHT OF FAITH.

HOW TO BE STRONG IN THE LORD: 2023

Conclusion

Finishing the Christian race, and finishing well, should be the goal of every believer, and the prize of becoming the perfect image of Christ is the best reward of all. It is not easy to finish a race, especially the Christian race, but with the right attitude of faith and perseverance, it is within the reach of every child of God.

We encourage you to keep your eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Finisher of our faith; and is also the “Start Line” and the “Finish Line” marks of our Christian race. As you press toward the mark, keep laying aside every weight that can slow down the race and hinder your perception, focus, and endurance. In so doing, you will be able to run with more joy, peace, and victory.

My prayer is that as we keep focusing on Jesus, we will know Him better and better; and that “the Lord–who is Spirit–makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image (2 Cor 3:18, NLT)

In this post, we shared some practical steps to press toward the mark and finish strong in the new year. Keep your eyes on Jesus as you press forward in this great race that He has called you to run. May God be glorified as we walk by His Spirit and not our own strength in all areas of life! So, let’s run the race well this year and finish strong!