Wednesday, January 5, 2022

Mid-Week Message - Looking Forward

 "Brothers and sisters, 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"  Philippians 3:13 (NIV)


I have only made one New Year's resolution that I have ever kept and I have made many.  I'm sure I'm not alone in saying that I start out strong but within a few days I lose my resolve.  This is a time of year that gyms and companies that make diet products make a lot of money from people who vow to lose weight and get fit in the new year.  

Each year is filled with highs and lows, successes and failures.  We have a choice.  We can concentrate on the previous year or we can look forward to the clean slate of the one before us.  If you are like me, you may have had a difficult 2021.  My family faced some challenges that I would never like to face again.  Some of those are ongoing.  However, if we spend our time looking behind us, then we fail to look forward in faith for how the Lord is going to use those issues in our lives for good.  God's Word assures us that He is with us all the time and that He will provide for us.  

Romans 8:28 teaches, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."  All of the good of last year, along with all of the difficult, will be used by our Father in Heaven for our good.  We need to be looking forward in expectation because His love and His plans are always good.  Paul's statement gives us direction.  Forget what has been and strain toward what is ahead.  

As we go through this week, let us spend time in prayer and acknowledge to Him that we are grateful for what has been but that we are eager to see what His blessings for this year hold.  2021 is in the past but 2022 is a year that promises more time in His presence and the great joys that come along with it.  God bless you!

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