Sunday Thought 68

As we begin a New Year, many of us take time to make goals or “resolutions” for the New Year. At the same time, many of us look back at the previous year and reflect. Sometimes that brings happy memories; other times it brings sorrow and discouragement.

Maybe we had set some financial goals and we did not attain them (like me!). Or maybe we lapsed back into some bad financial habits. It’s important to learn from our mistakes, but it is also important to forget and move on – and not continue to beat ourselves up over past failures.

In Philippians 3:13-14 the Apostle Paul states “Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do; forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal…”.

Paul had a lot to forget. He had persecuted others, and he had been persecuted. He also had survived numerous trials-hunger, poverty, shipwreck, etc. He could have just wallowed in pity and despair. But instead he moved on, he kept reaching and pressing toward his goal, regardless of the failures or trials along the way.

We too need to forget what lies behind us and reach forward to what lies ahead, pressing on toward our goals.

I pray that youwill have a wonderful 2010! Press on.