Moving Forward

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Recently the Lord has reminded me of the verse Philippines 3:12-15. I like how the Passion Translation puts this:

"I admit that I haven't yet acquired the absolute fullness that I'm pursuing, but I run with passion into his abundance so that I may reach the purpose that Jesus Christ has called me to fulfill and wants me to discover. I don't depend on my own strength to accomplish this; however I do have one compelling focus: I forget all of the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead. I run straight for the divine invitation of reaching the heavenly goal and gaining the victory-prize through the anointing of Jesus. So let all who are fully mature have this same passion, and if anyone is not yet gripped by these desires, God will reveal it to them."

2020 was a challenging year to say the least. In one way or another our lives may have been rearranged or even devastated. You may have lost your means of income and your world was turned upside down in some way. If it wasn't the COVID, it may have been that someone has hurt you; some disease or physical issue has shown up or gotten worse.  You may have been caught off guard by the economy, the political arena, your health, your homes, your families. You may have lost a family member through health problems or violence.  It could have been any number of things.  But we must remember that God has been faithful through it all and He will continue to be faithful.

He isn't expecting us to just forget the past like it never happened.  And this includes even back further than 2020.  We may have failed God in some way.  We may have had our hope and faith dashed due to some circumstance beyond our control.  Many times we allow these things to hold us back from hope and anticipating what lies ahead.  But Paul said that he hadn't perfected the art of moving forward- but he was working towards moving forward. And this is what we have to do. We may not have all the answers.  Our health may still be compromised, our finances still may be low, and countless other things may not have changed. But we must forget the pain of all that and fasten our hearts to the future.  If we continue to look back at what has happened, we can not go forward.  If we continue to dwell on the pain of whatever has transpired over the years, we will never move forward. Dwelling on the past drains us of our physical and spiritual strength and causes us to miss out on what God has for us in the future. We have to leave the past in the past and move on in God.

We certainly can not do this in our own strength. But the Word says, that those who wait on God will renew their strength. (Isaiah 40:31).  We must walk in Christ's anointing and not our own strength. Let's determine to have the same kind of passion that Paul had for his future. He truly put his faith and trust in the Lord and reached for that victory-prize- the heavenly goal- the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Isaiah 40:31: "But those who wait for the Lord (who expect, look for, and hope in Him) will gain new strength and renew their power; they will lift up their wings (and rise up close to God) like eagles (rising toward the sun); they will run and not become weary, they will walk and not grow tired." (The Amplified Bible)

Dear Lord, Help us to truly let the past in the past, and move forward with You. Renew our strength as we wait on You and allow You to do the work in us. Thank You for keeping us through this past year, and we look forward to all that You are going to do in this new year. May our expectations be only of You.

In Jesus Name, Amen.


~Blessings, Donna

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