A Weekend Away: Pressing Toward the Prize
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 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, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 3:12-14
They say bonds are forged in fire, or maybe — at least in my experience — they’re forged in those half-awake, midnight hours of an overnight retreat. If you’ve ever been on one of those trips — think back to that Christian youth camp you attended as a teen, or maybe the time you served as chaperone for a group of middle schoolers at a conference — you probably know exactly what I mean.
After the sermons, the singing, and the snacking, there’s still a lot to talk about. And there’s nothing quite like a 3 a.m. conversation with someone you met just a few hours earlier.
A couple months ago, I had the privilege of taking a large group of our pastors, youth group students, and men from our recovery programs to America’s Keswick in New Jersey for the annual Delaware Valley Men’s Conference.
On the first night, right around midnight — I was scheduled to speak to the whole group the next day — there was a knock at my door. My first thought was, is the building on fire? Nope. Just a young guy from our youth group asking for a dollar to use the vending machine. I gave it to him and rolled back over.
About thirty minutes later, there was another knock. This time, a man from our recovery program needed a phone charger.
Now, you can probably imagine my initial reaction.
I love these guys. And I also love sleep.
In that moment, God gently reminded me that I wasn’t there for rest; I was there for relationships. I was also reminded that Jesus spent time with people even when it cost Him His rest. He rose early and stayed up late to meet with the Father.
Retreats give us that same opportunity to be intentional with our time, to spend it with God and with one another.
It was the next day of the conference that I had the opportunity to speak from the book of Philippians. And what struck me most wasn’t just the attentiveness of the men but their hunger.
A hunger for God. A hunger for change. A hunger for real spiritual growth and transformation.
My message centered on Philippians 3:12–21, with a simple challenge: press on toward the goal. We focused on three key words: Motivation, Model, and Medal.
Motivation: Why do you live as a Christian?
Model: Who is challenging your growth and maturity in Christ?
Medal: What is the prize you are pressing toward?
We talked about forgetting past failures, disciplining ourselves like athletes, and allowing the hope of heaven to shape our daily life.
In our breakout groups, we talked through these questions:
Are there past achievements or failures I need to forget in order to press forward with Christ?
How can I apply endurance and discipline to my spiritual life?
After the message and conversation, one man approached me and we ended up talking for nearly an hour.
He asked how to practically — and daily — apply discipline to his spiritual walk. His eagerness, honesty, and humility were unforgettable. I actually went back to my room and grabbed my personal devotional book to give him (Daily New Testament: Through the New Testament in a Year). Now, hear me out, I’m not saying that to brag or score points. I’m sharing it because something was happening at that retreat.
These men were craving a deep and practical relationship with Jesus. Each and every guy there was wanting to grow closer to God, and what’s more? They were being equipped with practical tools to do the work.
So, while there’s no promise of a good night’s sleep, I’ll end my short retreat commercial with this: if you have the chance to attend one, go! You’ll be glad you did.
There’s something so powerful about stepping away from everyday life, sacrificing time and comfort, and intentionally meeting with God and His people. God honors that. And while He is always speaking, sometimes the setting of a retreat helps us hear Him more clearly.
And today, whether you’re home or away, don’t miss the opportunity to spend time with God.
Whether it’s reading your Bible for a few minutes with your morning coffee, reading a devotional in the evening, or attending a full-blown retreat, God wants to meet you. He wants to transform you.
He wants YOU to press on toward the prize.
And what is that prize? It’s Jesus! It’s letting go of both our achievements and our failures and walking with Him daily. It’s living in anticipation of the day we will be with Him in heaven. He made that reality possible through His very precious blood.