14 I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.
Oh how we all love to forget the trials and difficulties of the past year. We say and hear others say, "I am glad this year is over" But the one thing we so often forget to say is, " Thank God He brought us through and we made it into the new year, and He is going to take us through the next 12 months.
The reality is, there is not much different between Dec 31st and Jan 1st other than the date. The world celebrate the midnight hour as if it is some magical moment. But, things are pretty much the same. Some may still be in the struggle in January as the were in December. Others may be riding the wave of success and it carries through into the new year.
Whatever your situation is, God is still the same God and His word is still the same word. He has never changed and is in fact, "yesterday, today and forever the same." He is the one constant in our lives and His plan and purpose has never been changed. Our successes and failures are never a surprise to God. But his blessings and provision is always a surprise to us.
That's why the Apostle Paul says "it is my one aspiration, to forget the things which are behind" It is important to forget the past. The past is unchangeable, but the future can be altered by the decisions and actions we make.
Paul speaks about "straining forward to what lies ahead". We know God is the author of good things. His word says "all good things come from above" It is never in the plan of God to provide bad things. God is incapable of doing bad things. So His plan for this next year is to bless us beyond measure. Our job is to strain forward to receive that which lies ahead.
Paul speaks about "straining forward to what lies ahead". We know God is the author of good things. His word says "all good things come from above" It is never in the plan of God to provide bad things. God is incapable of doing bad things. So His plan for this next year is to bless us beyond measure. Our job is to strain forward to receive that which lies ahead.
Ephesians 3:20 "Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]--" Amplified.
I love this scripture. He is able to carry out His purpose and do "superabundantly". The truth is His is capable of far greater than we dare ask or think. The limitations are placed there by me. I am the one who is ultimately responsible for allowing the promise of God to be made manifest in and through me.
It is indeed sad, that the church has made the devil the scape goat for our lack. But there is nothing in Ephesians 3 that indicates the devil has anything to do with my lack. The truth is God wants to bless us and we need to stop messing with this blessing.
The word straining and press towards indicates a willingness and action on my part to make heavens goal my aim. Let's agree together to make this new year a special year of receiving God's richness for our lives so that we may be able to impart to others that richness and bring them to the place of provision for their lives.
God bless you all.
Gil Howard-Browne
www.revivaltimes.com
It is indeed sad, that the church has made the devil the scape goat for our lack. But there is nothing in Ephesians 3 that indicates the devil has anything to do with my lack. The truth is God wants to bless us and we need to stop messing with this blessing.
The word straining and press towards indicates a willingness and action on my part to make heavens goal my aim. Let's agree together to make this new year a special year of receiving God's richness for our lives so that we may be able to impart to others that richness and bring them to the place of provision for their lives.
God bless you all.
Gil Howard-Browne
www.revivaltimes.com
No comments:
Post a Comment