I freely admit that my New Year’s Resolution this year is borrowed from someone else. I wanted a very simple goal for this year. I decided to select one thing and make it my 2016 focus. I found it in my Bible. It was stated by the Apostle Paul in a letter to the church in Philippi, and it is my one resolution for the year. Here it is:
But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13b-14).

The resolution is Jesus and here are the three things that he is determined to do. These are good resolutions for all of us.

  1. Forget the past. Let go of your past sins and poor choices. God has forgiven you in Christ. Your past does not have to determine your future. Let go of guilt, shame, and humiliation. Stop hanging on to past hurts. You cannot look forward when you are focused on the past.
  2. Go for the prize. We are going home to heaven. Do not quit. Do not get distracted. Do not lose sight of where you are going. Stay on the road that leads to where God has called you.
  3. Press On. Choose faith over fear, joy over depression, hope over despair, forgiveness over revenge, and love over hate. Be bold and radical this year in following Jesus. Give generously. Pray boldly. Read God’s Word daily. Share your faith. Represent Jesus in your world. Share your faith.

One thing: Jesus. Three things to do: forget the past, focus on heaven, and press on till you get there.

I know that some of you reading this have not yet fully bought in to following Jesus. This is the year to hear the call of God in Jesus. I can help you answer it. Write to me at steve@hopeforlife.org or visit our HopeForLife.org website.

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Forget the past and go for the gold.
Are you presently experiencing a new life? God's word says, "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

This new life is a gift of God through faith in Jesus Christ. If you want to know more about this life that only Jesus can give you, sign up for one of our Bible courses. Wherever you are in life, whatever you've done, you can begin again.

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