Philippians 3:12-14 – Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this 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 heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. (NRSV)

Psalm 118:24 – This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. (NKJV)

Another year has drawn to an end, and we anticipate a new year ahead of us — a brand new year — a time of new beginnings, new opportunities, a time to start over again. Whether or not we make any new year's resolutions, we can still forget the things that are behind us — the things that we did that we didn't want to do — and we can fix our eyes on Jesus and seek opportunities to do the things that we wanted to do but didn't do in the past year.

Some ways to press on toward the goal could be:

• Read the Bible more.
• Pray more.
• Go to church regularly.
• Tell others about Jesus.
• Walk the talk: do unto others as we would have them do unto us.
• Love others as God has loved us.

We're not perfect, we still have a lot to learn, and sometimes we will fail in our efforts, but with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can press on and seek to be the people that we were created to be, as we stop looking back and start looking forward to what lies ahead.

As the Scripture tells in 1 Corinthians 6:19, we are not our own. If we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, we are His, and He will keep on helping us by His grace to do His will until that day when He returns.

Here is one of my favourite verses of Scripture:

Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (NKJV)

Let us seek that strength in the days ahead.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, our prayers are full of praise to You! We thank You for the new year ahead of us. Help us to make the most of each day. Thankfully, we don't have to rely on our own strength. May Your Spirit live within us so that we might become everything that You would have us be and know the joy of living lives that are pleasing to You. May we learn to trust in You as we seek Your plan for our lives, not looking back, but pressing on towards the goal of being transformed into the people that You want us to be. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

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About the author:

Dee Renaud <dee.renaud@outlook.com>
Sauble Beach, Ontario, Canada
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