Forward…March
Welcome, March! Time is literally MARCH-ing forward, and so are we! An army platoon marches forward, never backward. Whether soldiers are stationed at their home base, transitioning between posts, or engaged in battle, they are always on assignment –pressing onward until their mission is complete.
For curiosity’s sake, I looked up how many active U.S. military there are. In 2025, the US military has about 1.32 million active-duty personnel. This includes:
• Army: 450,000 personnel
• Navy: 332,000 personnel
• Air Force: 316,000 personnel
• Marine Corps: 173,000 personnel
• Space Force: 9,450 personnel
• Coast Guard: 40,600 personnel
I am so thankful that these men and women are marching onward, giving their lives in service. And for that, I am deeply grateful.
The Apostle Paul captured this same spirit of perseverance when he wrote in Philippians 3:13-14:
“…But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining FORWARD to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Forward means going forth, advancing, leading, pushing ahead. We may not be soldiers in the military, but we are stationed here for a reason — to march forward in our faith, in our purpose, and in our daily assignments from God.Forward… MARCH!
Some of us are marching through single life, pursuing God’s calling with ambition and fervor. Others are married, raising little ones, or stewarding the next generation. Regardless of our status or rank, we are ambassadors and soldiers in God’s army — on mission to live out His calling.
And let’s be clear — this isn’t a life of merely surviving. It’s a life of conquering, celebrating, and overcoming! Jesus has already secured the victory, and our job is to walk in it.
Before healing a man with a withered hand, Jesus told him, “Step forward.” (Mark 3:3)
What a command! Not “sit back” or “wait it out” but step forward. That’s our call too. Will we stay stuck in fear or uncertainty? Or will we march boldly into the future God has laid before us?
The mission is clear. Forward… MARCH!