“Pushing
Forward and Looking Ahead in 2021”
I have
often heard that God has His reasons for giving us two eyes in the front of our
head and not in the back. Sure, we can look around and even walk backwards but
that doesn't come naturel. God has given us vision to face forward while we
focus on Him and trust Him for each step. To live or dwell on our past keeps us
from enjoying the present and being hopeful for the future. Paul gives us great
insight into this in God’s word . . .,
12 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. 13 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, 14 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 (NLT)
God
continues to bring this scripture to my mind and heart at the beginning of each
new year. There is something about the changing of the year of a calendar that
gives us a feeling of a new start. Many will make resolutions for change in the
new year, while others just keep going like it is any other new day. It is
important to not "write off" 2020 as the worst year ever. Yes, it was
plagued with a global pandemic, hatred, racism, violence, isolation, depression
and division among people and government. However, God is still in control. You
and I have an opportunity to love Him and love others. If you don’t like the
way the world is, work to change it. Any
day God gives us to do that is a good day. Let’s look ahead in 2021 and race to
reach all that God has for us.
In Him,
Pastor
James
