The Evangelist Speaks

by Evangelist Carolyn Griffin

Pressing Toward New Goals 

Many of us are making New Year’s Resolutions. We resolve to eat better, exercise more, treat people nicer, study more, pray more, give more, attend church more regularly, and the list goes on and on. We want the benefits that will come our way if we follow through on our resolutions. However, too often we put little or no effort in keeping them. The Apostle Paul gave us a more excellent way and provided us with a great example. Paul wrote to the church at Philippi about his goal of obtaining a great prize. 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 for me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not yet 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 NLT. Our goal as Christians should be like Paul’s. His goal was to know Christ, to be like Christ, and to be all that Christ had in mind for him to be. Paul knew that he had to press towards this goal and not just talk about it.

In pressing toward new goals, we must forget about the past, and focus all of our energies on the prizes that are set before us. If we want new and better relationships, we must forgive, forget, and let go of the hurt and pain of past relationships. If we want to be successful in our endeavors, we must stop dwelling on past failures and mistakes. If we want to be Kingdom Builders, we have to focus on our goals with the single-mindedness of an athlete in training and lay aside everything harmful and forsake anything that may distract us from being effective Christians. Paul explains it in this way: 1. I forget the ground I have covered in the race. I cannot waste time over the past. 2. I reach forth to that which is before me in the race. I strain every nerve and muscle and use every ounce of my strength to win. My future depends on it. I am running for my life. (Eternal Life)

3. I press toward the mark, that is, I pursue the white line in the stadium upon which all runners must keep their eyes fixed, lest I be disqualified for the prize.  

We have to pause and ask ourselves, what’s holding me back? Why haven’t I reached my goals? Am I willing to forget the past? Am I pressing with determination and faith in God? Am I reaching for the great things that are before me? Am I focused on the goals that I want to achieve? Am I following Paul’s example as he followed Christ? The answer for many of us, unfortunately, has been and still is no. Let’s purpose in our hearts and minds to change that as we enter into the New Year. Ask the Holy Spirit to help us make new goals. Ask God for the strength and courage to follow them through. Look to Jesus, our perfect example, for the resolve to press on toward those goals. He made it, Paul made it, and so can we. Press On!!! See you at the finish line. Have a Prosperous and Productive New Year!!!!