Focus
Pay attention to the tension in your body. Let go of it and any expectations to do anything other than God’s will today. Prepare yourself to hear God’s word.
Read
Philippians 3:13-4:1
13 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, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to you. 16 Only let us hold fast to what we have attained.
17 Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. 18 For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. 19 Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself. 1Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.
Reflect
Look forward, not backward – those words of wisdom are applicable in every arena of life. A runner in a race adds costly seconds to their time with every backward glance. A farmer who looks backward while planting has to deal with crooked rows for the rest of the growing season. A driver cannot see the dangers waiting ahead if their eyes are focused on the rearview mirror.
There are things in my past I wish I could forget, and I allowed those things to sabotage my future for years, until a presenter at a leadership event asked, “What if the things holding you back never go away or change?” His question made me realize that I could continue to sit back and wait for things to change, OR I could move forward and discover God’s plan for my life. I chose the latter, and God has provided me with more opportunities and experiences than I ever dreamed were possible. If I had chosen to wait, I would still be sitting because – 35 years later – those things that held me back have not gone away, nor have they changed. God has the power to negate our past and to use our future for His glory. Thanks be to God!
Pray
Lord, please give us the courage to walk away from the past and embrace the future. Amen
Go with God!
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