Reaching Ahead

“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead.” – Philippians 3:13 (CSB)

If you always do what you’ve always done, you will always be where you’ve always been. This is a very simple statement, but true nonetheless.

Paul, in essence, was saying in our text, “If I can’t grasp anything else in life, I have understood the principle of forgetting what is behind and reaching for what is ahead.” In other words, if we are to experience growth and success, we cannot be tied to our past. We must be willing to pursue God’s plan for our future.

Make a decision today to no longer waste your valuable time focusing on the past. As long as you are looking behind you, you will never be able to embrace what’s before you. Let’s look ahead with a positive expectation that we will see God’s best in 2019.

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Rediscovering Christmas

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16

Christmas means different things to different people. Unfortunately, far too many people have become jaded by the commercialism and consumerism of the season, instead of focusing on its true meaning.

The real message of Christmas is not even about the gifts we give to each other. Rather, it is a reminder of the gift that God has given to us—His Son Jesus Christ.

The birth of Christ was a demonstration of the Father’s love for us and it marked the beginning of our freedom. This gift was unique in the fact that God wrapped Himself in human likeness and dwelt among us.

A gift, however, is not yours until it has been received. Jesus is the ultimate gift that must be received and unwrapped. If you haven’t done so already, I encourage you to accept the greatest gift of all this Christmas—a gift that will not break, rust, or fade away. Jesus is the only gift that truly keeps on giving.

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Enough for Everyone

“John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.” – John 3:27

When we are going through a difficult season, it’s easy to think that other people are having it better than us, and that God loves them more. However, that is not the case because the Word says that God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11).

I’ve come to a point in my life where I have embraced this truth: “My God shall supply ALL of my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” In other words, God is my infinite source and abundant supply. Therefore, I can always trust Him to supply every one of my needs.

Our blessings come from God, and they are totally independent of how people feel about us. In God’s storehouse, there is enough for Him to bless everyone else and still have enough to bless me too.

If our faith and trust is in God, then we should never give in to envy or jealousy. This is a sure sign that we do not trust God as our source. There’s plenty of God’s goodness to go around without the fear of heaven ever reaching a deficit. When you trust God as your source, you’ll never have to want for anything.

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The Longing Soul

“For he satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.” – Psalm 107:9

Are you satisfied with the state of your life and the direction you are headed? Are you frustrated with your life because you know there is more to the abundant life than you are experiencing? Perhaps, you’ve thought to yourself, “There has to be more to life than this!”

If you feel like your life is being wasted away, it’s time to evaluate why. Although feelings of emptiness are a real thing, it is a sure sign something is wrong.

Maybe your focus needs to change or you’re just going through a temporary phase. Or maybe it’s something deeper that only God can reveal. And that’s exactly why you need a relationship with Him.

God knows how to fill every longing of your soul and give you what your heart truly longs for. The truth is, we don’t always know what we need, but God knows what’s best for us.

As we look to Him as our source, He will supply us with everything we need to live a life of peace, purpose, and wholeness.

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It’s Not How You Start

“The righteous falls seven times and rises again.” – Proverbs 24:16

Regardless of where you are in the scope of life; remember, it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.

Your past is called the past for a reason. It’s behind you! It’s water under the bridge. You can’t change the past by worrying about it or wallowing in it. So the best thing to do is to let it go and focus on the future.

Today, God is giving you a finishing grace! This grace will give you strength and encouragement to keep moving forward towards your dreams. If you have encountered some setbacks this year, don’t let it hold you back. God is about to thrust you into something greater—something you least expected.

A major door, a divine connection, a great opportunity is still in the making for you. Don’t let rejection hinder your expectation. Everything God promised you will come to pass. It may not happen in your timing, but God’s timing is always perfect.

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