Being intentional in life about what you are pursuing

Bible Verse(s):

Philippians 3:10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. 12 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. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

"if you aiim at nothing, you will hit it everytime." — Author Unknown

Who you become and where you end up in life is determined by what you pursue. Every day you are aiming your life at something. Sometimes people drift through life without realizing that what they consistently chase will ultimately shape who they become.

In this passage, the Apostle Paul establishes for us the highest priority when it comes to our pursuits in life. He says that his aim is the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. For Paul, life was not about comfort, success, or recognition. His aim was knowing Christ and becoming like Him.

Paul also helps us understand something very important about the journey of faith. He openly acknowledges that he is not perfect. Yet even in the face of his imperfection, he keeps pressing forward. That is an important lesson. Imperfection does not disqualify us from pursuing what God has called us to pursue.

Too many people stop moving forward because they focus on their failures. But Paul shows us the right mindset: keep pressing forward. Keep striving. Keep moving toward the goal. The pursuit matters more than the perfection.

Secondly, Paul explains that the upward call of God is centered on knowing Christ and becoming like Him—even in His suffering. That means our purpose is bigger than any single moment of life. Sometimes things happen that feel like losses. Sometimes obedience leads through difficulty rather than comfort.

But when our aim is aligned with God’s purpose, we can trust that He is working even the hard things together for good. Our lives are not just about us. Our faithfulness affects others. The way we pursue God shapes the impact our lives have on the people around us.

Lastly, Paul reminds us that this is an upward call. It is a call toward progress. Every day we have an opportunity to move forward. Growth doesn’t happen overnight, but it happens step by step.

Get up each day and aim to be better than yesterday. Let today’s floor become tomorrow’s ceiling. Keep growing. Keep learning. Keep becoming who God has called you to be.

What matters most is the direction of your life. Aim upward. Keep pursuing Christ.

Go get it. Go upward.