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. 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, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Happy New Year! This time of year is filled with the ideas of self reflection and growth. We examine our lives through the year that has passed and then look forward, straining toward fresh starts and growth. As Christ’s Church our prayer this year is that we would do it with eternity in mind – straining to be God’s people, leaving behind mistakes, sin, and shame, full to the brim with more and more of Jesus, and showing Him to the world around us.
