“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 ‭KJV‬‬

Full disclosure: it’s just me, myself, and I pursuing my dreams while fully engaging (to the best of my ability) in being a wife, mother, teacher, colleague, and friend. All whilst constantly trying to keep my eyes turnt up to Christ and my life buried in Him, and His word buried in me that I MIGHT not sin—and if/when I do at least see it and repent and go and sin no more LIKE THAT on purpose. Ain’t nobody got tahm for habitual nothing but PRAISE, you feel me?

‘S lot.

To love myself fully enough in Christ to not be looking for reciprocity (in all the faulty ways I tend to look for it from people) is a constant hustle. And sure, I’m sure some of y’all have apprehended. Gone head which ya self. 😒 I AIN’T. Me and Paul tell y’all flat-out, flat-footed, and without shame that we don’t count ourselves to have apprehended nothing. We just keep swimming outchea…or as he said so eloquently, “This one thing I do.”

I press.

Every day, the mercy is new. Every day, the grace is sufficient. Every day, the word of God is pruning me so that I grow into the image of His son. Everything I say or do is an outpouring of that… OR in the hard times, a flaring up of this flesh in protest. Cuz like I said, I ain’t finna tell none of y’all I done apprehended nothing but the gift of salvation, Jesus and Him Crucified and Resurrected so I MIGHT live.

Regardless? I press.

And may you too have counted the cost of following the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ so that you also PRESS—in good times, bad times, hard times, easy times, times of plenty, and times of scarcity. Whatever the weather may be, your choice be Christ and Him crucified, Christ and Him glorified for you and in you and through you for the namesake of the Father who gave His best for that which He loved: You.