I am not one to make New Year’s resolutions, but if I was, I would steal a page from St. Paul’s playbook.
“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).
Notice how Paul expressed his desire to achieve a goal. I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.
It inspires me that Paul admits that he struggles. I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection.
I like how Paul did not get stuck in the past. Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.
I should imitate how Paul trusted in God and knew that his strength was found in Jesus. I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus.
I am going to follow Paul’s example and make 2024 a year that I increase my desire to leave the past behind, move forward to the future, and become more like Christ in every way possible so that, when this life is done, I may bask in the joy of Heaven!
