A New Year

At the New Year’s Eve party I talked about new beginnings. A new year is a chance to look ahead. This is a great time to consider where we have been and, more importantly, where we want to go. As we consider the past and the future, we should reflect in the words of the apostle Paul, who wrote the following:
I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. (Philippians 3:12-14)
A new year is a time for a fresh start. Many people get caught in one of two traps at the start of a new year. Some will be unable to escape the negative memories of the past year. Others will look back at the previous year’s success and become complacent. Paul’s words challenge both of these missteps.
When we dwell on the mistakes of our past, it keeps us from finding the healing and hope that God offers us. We cannot act like the past never happened, but neither can we allow ourselves to be weighed down. God offers second chances and opportunities to change. A new year is a great time to look for a chance to change direction or reach for new goals.
On the other end of the spectrum, we can become lazy if we bask in the glory of previous triumphs. If we simply look back with pride with what we have done, it can cause us to stall in our growth and miss opportunities that God will put before us. Focusing on previous success can be a barrier to our future success.
Paul’s words of advice are as true today as they were when he penned them almost two thousand years ago. Don’t think you have arrived. Don’t dwell on the past. Look to the future and seek what God is calling you to be on the road ahead. When we are willing to trust God and look forward, we will receive the prize for which God is calling us.

shine!
Jason