Onward habits are those habits that we need to develop in order to run the race God has set before us. These are the habits that shape who we are in relation to the world around us. These are the habits that are formed from the way we respond to the saving grace of God.

As a person with an onward mindset you will see the need and have the vision to take God’s message to all you come in contact with.  An onward person realizes that this life is not the end of all things but just time before our rebirth into heaven.

A person with an onward attitude also knows that what we do here affects how we will live there.  In short as Jesus “store up your treasures in Heaven” not here.  As the old saying goes you can’t take it with you. 

Therefore an onward person is concerned with being plugged into Gods plans, realizes into which kingdom they belong and are not afraid to take action when called upon by the Lord.

In Philippians 3:12b-14 Paul brings forth this same idea by talking about how he is  “pressing on toward the goal” that was set before him.  The goal set by Jesus Christ

Paul is a man who know what he is here for and what he need to do in this lifetime in order to respond to the gift of grace that was given to him

Now Read the Philippians passage and think about the grace that was given to you and how you are or aren’t living your life in response to that grace.

Next take the time to view your onward life according to what you are called to do and then write down a few ideas that may help you to put into action what you have been called to do.

An onward life of action is the end result of an inward life of renewal followed by an outward life leadership by example.

The five onward habits that are detailed in the following pages are:

It is often said that the best man for a job is the one that is there at the time the job is to be done.  Too often I think we do not do what we are called to do because we are waiting for a better-equipped man or woman other than us to come along and do the job.

Oh we’re good at making excuses for not looking onward.   Most of the excuses involve getting or receiving all the gifts and gadgets this world has to offer.  Most people see with their eyes and not with their hearts.

What I am talking about is compulsive type behavior, which is at the core of modern advertising.  Most companies know that they can capture your attention visually chances are you are going to buy and buy and buy.  What is left is a house full of stuff, credit cards maxed out and you sitting there in a daze wondering why you bought all the stuff in the first place.

In this the American society it is easy to get caught up in an onward adventure that includes getting to Easy Street and living there for as long as possible.  I have two teenagers who I try to get to understand that money does not, even if they believe it to be true, grow on trees, but most of the time my advice falls on death ears. 

Oh the power of advertising and how easily we are deceived into buying, but God has different ideas for us.  God knows that true happiness in our onward lives does not come in focusing on things but on focusing on Him and the truth contained in His Word.  I don’t know about you but I don’t think I will be watching a 62” TV or listening to an MP3 player or even driving a brand new Lexus in Heaven.  

Our onward call involves much more than accumulating things or gaining  as much power as possible, it involves a life that is looked at from the other side out.  View your life as if you are seeing it through the window of eternity and your perspective on things will begin to change.  When we are young we get caught up in the ideas of the young.  In my generation it was peace and love today it is whatever you feel like doing. 

Time has passed but the worldly ideas are still wrapped up in self as the center of all things possible. As I have aged I have discovered not only a slower step and more gray hairs, I have also discovered that this life is noting more that a fleeting moment in eternity.   There is more that waits for us then we can imagine or desire, more than we can ever get from this life.  That is why it is important for us to look onward and not get stuck in mud here thinking this is it.

Read the Bible verse below and see what Jesus says to you about an onward perspective then move on to the next segment of Life in Three Parts

Matthew 6:19-20

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal."