We have a membership at our local YMCA. Every year from January to about the second week of February the place is “jam packed” with people we usually don’t see on a regular basis. The cardio machines and nautilus equipment are seldom at a standstill and usually have a line waiting to use them. However, after February the place returns to normal and you can pretty much use any piece of equipment with no line or wait. I guess I might be speculating, but I think the increase of people at the YMCA probably has to do with New Year’s resolutions. Now I’m not making light of anyone’s effort. As a matter a fact, I believe any attempt at exercise or a healthier lifestyle is better than no attempt at all. Exercise is a great New Year’s resolution. However, for most of us its not about knowing what we should do to get the results we want. It’s about getting the desire to consistently do what we know we should do; so we can see the results we truly desire.
I’m not one to set New Year’s resolutions or to always look at a New Year as a new beginning. Nonetheless, I do feel extremely excited for 2017 and the possibilities I sense it has for me and my family. But, with this in mind I truly believe that each day is an unfolding gift from God and every year is an opportunity for those days to unfold with endless possibilities. Nonetheless, I still pray that all your resolutions are fulfilled. For a resolution to be fulfilled it has to be more than just a wish list. It must have a plan of action. A resolution is made to create a result or resolve something until a different expectation is met. Paul give us a great “Spiritual Exercise” that will create great results and cause unlimited resolve if we will just heed to it’s words and apply it to our lives.
These words are found in Philippians 3:13-14: 13 Of course, my friends, I really do not think that I have already won it; the one thing I do, however, is to forget what is behind me and do my best to reach what is ahead. 14 So I run straight toward the goal in order to win the prize, which is God’s call through Christ Jesus to the life above. In this passage Paul says, “this one thing I do.” Maybe you are trying to hard? Maybe you are trying to many things at once? Don’t focus on everyone or everything. Focus on the things you are truly responsible for. Put effort into those things that you can change. Paul is very transparent in this passage. He tells us that he hasn’t already won the battle or totally obtained anything; but he still does this one thing! He forgets what is behind him. That’s the one thing he does. But, in these two verses he gives a formula for how to do it. This is a formula that will bring resolution and create lasting results.
Here it is: (1) Forget (2) Reach and (3) Run.
(1) Forget: to lose out of one’s mind by neglect; to not rehearse or recall continually. When you forget where you put your keys or parked your car; you forget by accident. If you are going to have peace you will have to forget on purpose!
(2) Reach: to stretch or strain until obtained or achieved. The reason must of us don’t receive what we desire is because we give up to easily. You may be closer than you think. Don’t give up on what God hasn’t given up on. And always remember: Because He is… You can… You will… and You are!
(3) Run: to press in; run swiftly in a race; to run away to flee or to run towards and catch. You will never obtain what you desire if you constantly run away form what matters or if you continually run towards what doesn’t! Don’t run after everyone or everything. You need to save your energy for the things and people that matter most.
Thoughts To Ponder As You (1)Forget, (2)Reach and (3)Run:
- You won’t lay hold of what’s next if you’re always looking back.
- You won’t forget what you constantly talk about.
- You won’t look to the future with hope if you are looking to the past in regret.
- You won’t have peace for the future if you don’t have closure on the past.
- You won’t possess “what is” if you always focus on “what could have been”.
- You won’t find “right thing” if you are always focused on the “wrong thing”.
- You won’t maximize the potential of a result if you minimize the probability of it coming to pass.
Well said!