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I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 3:13-14

A new year is a time for a fresh look, a new beginning, new hope.

Have you set goals that will improve your life in 2023? Have you made sure they are the goals that you really want, that are important for you to achieve? Not just the goals you ‘should’ have, but goals you really want. Are they realistic, achievable? Are they focused? Few enough that you can focus on achieving them? I suggest no more than 2 or 3, and that they be the goals which are most important to you.

Now we think about how to achieve those goals.

Dr. Aziz Gazipura, in his book The Art of Extraordinary Confidence, says there are only two steps to achieving your goals:
1. Be willing to do whatever it takes.
2. Do whatever it takes.

First, decide if you are willing to do whatever it takes. Is the goal really worth it to you? Are you willing to work for it? Or is it just something you would like if it worked out that way? Be completely honest with yourself. If it’s not that important to you, that’s ok. Find a goal that is important to you, and is worth working for. Something that you are wiling to do whatever it takes.

Now the hard part. Do whatever it takes. Take action. Take massive action. Action is the key to moving forward, the key to getting what you want. Nothing happens without action.

Ask what actions can you take to move yourself toward that goal? Be specific.

Now go take those actions. Now. Or as soon as possible.  Don’t make excuses, just take action. Will you fail? Maybe. Growth is a messy process. Sometimes what you do will make things worse. You learn from that. Still, without action nothing happens. Planning is not enough. One step forward, two steps backward. Two steps forward, one step backward.

Seek God and his wisdom. God wants the best for you. He will help you achieve goals that are best for you.

“press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”

Happy New Year! May 2023 be a blessed and happy year for you!

Philippians 3:11 – 13

¹¹ If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

¹² Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

¹³ Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: . . .”

We can think of this as saying, I’m not perfect; I have not yet reached what I want to be; I have not reach where I’m going. But “I follow after” – in other words, I’m seeking to become better, to reach maturity, to become perfect.

This acknowledges that we are not perfect. Acknowledge that we are not perfect, we don’t understand everything, we have not yet arrived. We are a work in progress.

God never requires perfection. He loves the imperfect. He loves you.

You are not perfect. You don’t have to be, to press toward the mark.

verse 14: “I press toward the mark for the prize”

There’s a goal before you, a prize, something worth working for.

May God richly bless you this new year as you press toward the prize.

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 3:13-14

“reaching forth unto those things which are before”. A new year is a time for a fresh look, a new beginning, new hope. What has God put on your heart to reach forth to in 2023?

Pause and reflect on 2022. What went well? What went bad? What actions will you do again? What actions would you do differently?

Make a short list. Maybe just three things that you will do again, and three things you will do differently. Be honest with yourself, no one else has to know or see the list. You can reflect on it and then tear it up and throw it away if you want to make sure it’s private. The important thing is to be completely honest with yourself.

Now think about what’s important to you. What are the goals you would like to achieve in 2023? Make sure those are the things you really want, and not just the things you ‘should’ want. If they are the things you really want, then you will be motivated to do them. Prioritize them, so you can really work on the top two are three that are really important to you.

Are these realistic goals? Can you achieve them in a year? It’s ok if they are longer-term goals.

“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” Are these goals that God will be pleased with if you achieve them? Are they goals you believe God will help you with? If not, why not? What can you do?

Happy New Year! May 2023 be a bless and happy year for you!

A thankful spirit is good for you. It relaxes you, calms you down, give you enjoyment in your spirit.

Advertisers want to sell, of course, and they bombard us all with everything we don’t have. When we compare ourselves to others, we sometimes see what we don’t have.

The enemy of our soul, Satan, would want to focus on what we don’t have, to rob our joy, to make us sad, to make us miserable.

There’s joy today in focusing on what you do have.

Not everyone has the same things, but take pleasure in what you do have. Maybe you have good health, family, faith in God, a roof over your head, food and clothing. Maybe you are able to look up into the sky and give thanks to God for the beauty.

You don’t have everything you need, and you won’t until you are in heaven. God has given you some blessing, focus on those, enjoy them.

 ^“This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” – Psalms 118:24

Colossians 3:15 – 17

“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”

Be thankful.

Salvation is free, and it cost everything. Yes, that is funny and sounds not possible. Some have said (more accurately) that salvation is free to us, then discipleship cost everything.

Salvation is a free gift from God. That is abundantly clear in many scriptures, such as Ephesians 2:9: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Christ paid the debt for all sin, bought the way for all to be saved, just by accepting His free gift by faith. There’s no amount of work you can do to receive God’s salvation. You can’t be good enough, can’t do enough good deeds to ever be worthy of heaven. God cannot allow sin into heaven. Who would want to be in a heaven if it was full of sin? It had to be paid for. It was paid by Christ at Calvary. That gift has to be accepted in order to obtain that forgiveness of sin, for the person to be forgiven and to accept the redeeming work of Christ.

So, salvation is free.

Once we accept salvation, we realize that our all is in Christ. We know His ways is the best possible way for our life, and we want to follow His ways – we want to to become His disciple. We give our lives to Christ. We are not perfect. But we invite Christ into every aspect of our lives. It’s our joy to serve Him, to give Him everything.

So, it cost us everything.

That everything is something we enthusiastically give. We give our all, because we know Christ gave His all, and our best life will be found through giving Him our all.

God has a great plan for your life.

The hand of God is always working. Often it is not recognized. He works quietly. Sometimes slowly. But always working.

Many people work for years to develop skills, talent, experience in their field. No one see the hard work, the long hours they put in. Hours of practice. The athletic; the artist; the musician.

Of course, God doesn’t have to practice, or to work slow. He can do whatever He chooses. Sometimes He choses to work things out slowly, maybe taking weeks, months, or years to set things up for His purposes. God looks generations ahead and sets up things for His purposes and for His glory.

Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see God’s hand working. He is. God is working for your good. He has not given up. He is not discouraged or frustrated. Trust God with His plan. Trust God with your life.

Isaiah 65:24 (KJV) declares, “And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; And while they are yet speaking, I will hear.”

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. – Proverbs 3:6

Is God directing your paths today? Why or why not?

Maybe you are directing your own path. Maybe you are letting other people direct your path. Maybe the culture, the values of the world around you are directing your path. Maybe you are drifting and not sure who is directing your path. Or if you are even on a path.

First we do our part. Acknowledge Him. We know God keeps His word, so if we do our part, He will do His part.

Acknowledge that He is the God in control, God created the world and all therein. He can do anything. Invite God to direct your affairs. Remember God cares about all aspects of your life. He knows about everything in your life.

It’s important to seek God’s direction and to ask Him. God will not lead you in a direction that is contrary to His Word. He will not lead you into a direction that is bad for you.

The path may not always be easy. In the Old Testament, when God directed Moses into the path of leading the Israelites out of bondage, it was not the easiest path in the short-term. It was great hardship. They left the familiar and walked into a direction they were not sure of. They had to acknowledge God and to trust Him every step of the way.

Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. – Psalms 119:133 The path may not always be easy, but it will always be the best path, and will lead to God, long-term blessings, and your heav

And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. – Psalms 50:15

What are your ideas on how to glorify God?

Certainly, loving God with all your heart, and loving your neighbor.

Matthew 22:37-40

[37] Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
[38] This is the first and great commandment.
[39] And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
[40] On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

We are not saved by works, but we can glorify God with good works:

Ephesians 2:10

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

You were created for good works. What good works are you doing?

Start with those closest to you, those around you. Glorify God by your attitude and actions with them.

Many people want a close relationship with God.

What does a close relationship with God mean? It means that you deeply want to know God. You want to walk with Him daily. You want a personal relationship with Him. You want to know you are with Him, He is with you, and He cares about you. Cares about every aspect of you and your life. The more you know God, you see His perfect and pure goodness, so you know you want to please Him, and that your best life, your greatest pleasure will be found in your close relationship with God, in walking with Him.

Will you always please him? No. But you come back to Him quickly. You want to please Him.

God looks on the heart.

In the Bible, I Samuel 16, a king was being chosen by God through the prophet Samuel. Samuel saw Eliab, who was apparently a tall good-looking man. Samuel was immediately impressed and thought this is surely the one. But he was not. That’s when this passage of scripture says: “for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” – I Samuel 16:7b.

When we look at someone, we of course observe things about them. They may be attractive, skilled, talented, pleasant, funny, maybe we can tell they have wealth. Nothing wrong with those things. Of course those things don’t equate to close to God. We can’t see their heart, only God sees that. Only God sees your heart. God knows if you are seeking Him, deep in your innermost being. Regardless of our physical appearance, social status, God wants your heart.

God is seeking those who want that relationship with Him.  

“But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.” – John 4:23.

You can be close to God. Seek Him. Spend some time with Him today. He is seeking you.

And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. – Psalms 50:15

How many times we are in trouble! Troubles without. Troubles within. Sorrow overwhelming us.

Some troubles because we live in a fallen sinful world, sometimes because of circumstances, sometimes because of other people, sometimes because of bad choices we make, sometimes because of our sin.

Even when we get our own selves in trouble, God does not abandon us. He does not say, if you are worthy, I will deliver you. No. He says call upon me. In the day of trouble. I will deliver thee. And thou shalt glorify me.

What to say? Where to turn? Where to go? When to go? Who to tell? What to do? How to act? I don’t know. You don’t know. God knows. He can.

You may be terrified. That’s ok. This is a day of trouble. Call upon God.

Deliverance against all odds.

Deliverance in all circumstances.

Deliverance when it’s hopeless.

Deliverance when you don’t know the answer, when you don’t know what you want, or what is best.

He will deliver you for His own great name, for His nature of mercy to us. He knows our frame; we are but dust. Our weakness, our infirmity, our sin, our shame.

¹³ Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.

¹⁴ For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. – Psalms 103:13-14

² Have mercy upon me, O Lord; for I am weak: O Lord, heal me; for my bones are vexed. ³ My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O Lord, how long? ⁴ Return, O Lord, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies’ sake. – Psalms 6:2-4

¹⁷ Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee: – Jeremiah 32:17

What trouble are you in today? It matters not how you got there. It only matters that you have a God that will deliver.

Lyrics from the gospel song, Troublesome Waters:

VERSE 1
TROUBLESOME WATERS, ARE BLACKER THAN NIGHT,
HIDING FROM VIEW THE HARBOR’S BRIGHT LIGHTS,
OUT ON THE OCEAN I SEEM AS I SPEAK,
AWFUL SEA MONSTERS ARE WAITING MY WRECK.

GENTLY I FEEL THE TOUCH OF HIS HAND,
GUIDING MY BOAT TO THAT BETTER LAND,
LEADING THE WAY TO HEAVEN’S BRIGHT SHORE,
TROUBLESOME WATERS, I’M FEARING NO MORE.

TROUBLESOME WATERS, AROUND ME NOW ROLL,
ROCKING MY BOAT, AND TEMPTING MY SOUL,
LOVED ONES ARE DRIFTING AND LIVING IN SIN,
TREACHEOUS WHIRLPOOLS ARE PULLING THEM IN,

GENTLY I FEEL THE TOUCH OF HIS HAND,
GUIDING MY BOAT TO THAT BETTER LAND,
LEADING THE WAY TO HEAVEN’S BRIGHT SHORE,
TROUBLESOME WATERS, I’M FEARING NO MORE.

SIN WAVES ARE DASHING AND ROLLING SO HIGH,
OVER THEIR NOISE YOU CAN HEAR MY SAD CRY,
LORD I AM TRUSTING HAVE MERCY ON ME,
STEADY MY LIFE BOAT WHILE I AM AT SEA

GENTLY I FEEL THE TOUCH OF HIS HAND,
GUIDING MY BOAT TO THAT BETTER LAND,
LEADING THE WAY TO HEAVEN’S BRIGHT SHORE,
TROUBLESOME WATERS, I’M FEARING NO MORE.