I’m pretty sure 2025 was a futuristic date in the Jetson’s cartoon when I was little. Or at least it was way out there from my little vantage point in the seventies and eighties. Yet here we are.
And ready or not, here we go!
As the Apostle Paul said, “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).
I press.
Paul said “one thing I do” and then he stretched it into three things. But really he was simply (and clearly) defining HOW he planned to do that ONE THING. The intention is to press toward the goal. To press means to move or to cause to move into a position of contact. It also means to put something or someone to a specified use. Both of these definitions stir the imagination as we look ahead to the new year.
In another letter, Paul encouraged Timothy to run from things that taint, water down, or defile your life. Instead, “Pursue a righteous life– a life of wonder, faith, love, steadiness, courtesy. Run hard and fast in the faith. Seize the eternal life, the life you were called to, the life you so fervently embraced in the presence of so many witnesses” (1 Timothy 6:11-12 MSG). The word pursue here is the same Greek word for press.
In other words, go after these things with the intent of obtaining.
It’s interesting that Paul mentioned witnesses. He was right to remind Timothy (as I want to remind you) that others are watching your walk of faith. With every challenge, will you show that your hope and expectation is confidently in the Lord your God? Because whether you like it or not, others are observing you– and being led closer to, or further from, Jesus.
The advice is simple.
First, forget the past. Don’t dwell on it because you can’t change it. What you can do however, is learn from it. No one wants to repeat failures. Forgetting the past includes the guilt, shame, grief, and regret. Stop thinking about it. Cease to remember those things. Instead, take all the good (and even in terrible situations, there’s some good if we allow it to push us closer to God), and let it strengthen you.
Secondly, reach forward to what’s ahead. The key word here is forward. You have to get your nose in the right direction. You can’t claim to have forgotten the past if you face the wrong way. It’s impossible to move forward while looking backwards. But with your eye on the prize, the Holy Spirit will gracefully help you take the necessary steps.
And by the way, there is a prize.
“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it” (1 Corinthians 9:24). Naturally speaking, only one runner will go home with the trophy. But in the kingdom of God, our only competitor is SELF. So “run [your race] that you may lay hold [of the prize] and make it yours” (AMPC).
We’re running for an imperishable crown. Paul said, “So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body [my SELF] like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:26 NLT).
With our eye on the prize of that upward calling of Christ Jesus, here we go! Into a new year with new possibilities. His mercies are new every day so let’s take full advantage of His love and grace! Set your goals. Ask for help from the Holy Spirit. Decide today that with God’s guidance, you’re going to be the best version of you that you can be– and fulfill all the plans He has made for you!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
