Pressing On

As we begin this new year, I wish you all the choicest blessings from the Lord as we embark on this new season of 2024.

As we enter 2024, it is helpful to reflect on what we achieved in 2023 whilst at the same time acknowledging the challenges many have faced and or may continue to face, such as financial difficulties, health issues, relationship problems, loss of loved ones, changes in the work environment and many more. We acknowledge that these challenges can be daunting and discouraging.

Therefore, it is an excellent time to reflect individually and collectively on the Word and allow God to speak to us as we move forward one step at a time. One scripture that the Lord has been pressing on my spirit is Philippians 3:12-16, and in sharing, I hope there is something for you as well, or maybe God has been depositing some other words of wisdom with you while away.

In this scripture, we draw inspiration from the words of the Apostle Paul: “12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Reflecting on his spiritual journey, Paul emphasises the pursuit of knowing Christ and achieving the ultimate goal: to please Christ and experience the resurrection from the dead. In this, he highlights a few critical thoughts:

• Maximum Effort (3:12) Paul's perspective on his spiritual journey is a reminder for us. Acknowledging that he has yet to attain it fully, he encourages us not to become idle in our efforts but to press on with maximum effort. Our resolve should be to make knowing Christ our priority, recognising the worth of this pursuit.
• A Focused Mind (3:13) Paul's focus on the goal involves forgetting past achievements or failures. Similarly, as we enter the new year, let's adopt a focused mindset, leaving behind successes and setbacks. Our one big thing is to strain forward, continually reaching and pressing on toward knowing Christ. It is a reminder that we can't run in a race if we carry heavy loads of unforgiveness, past hurts, disappointments, and old testimonies, and leaving this behind will allow us to race towards new experiences in Christ.
• Reaching Toward the Prize (3:14) Where Paul strains forward is crucial—toward the heavenly prize of knowing Christ fully. As we set our eyes on the new year, let's keep our thoughts heavenward as per Colossians 3, understanding that the ultimate prize is the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Heaven is about knowing Christ, and our pursuit now aligns with that future hope.
• Mature Thinking (3:15-16) Maturity in Christ involves recognising that perfection is yet to come and understanding the importance of finishing the race. It consists in imitating Christ, requiring us to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Let's embrace the mature mindset of pressing forward, and may God reveal any errors in our thinking through His Word. Our calling is the upward call, a heavenly purpose to align our lives.

Although times may be uncertain, we know that yesterday, today and forever, Jesus is the same. So, as we embark on this new year, let's remember these resolves: give maximum effort, maintain a focused mind, and reach forward for the prize of the upward call. May our diligence in knowing the Lord be unwavering, and may we press on with a renewed commitment to our spiritual journey.