So did you stay up to welcome in 2011? I did. But I must confess that I did so only because I have children who think it is cool to have an excuse to stay up past midnight. Years of living will teach them wisdom that counters "cool." Until then, I joyfully 'suffer' with them, knowing the gift of forming memories with them lasts but for a short time! I sure am glad they chose to 'hang' with me as we said "goodbye" to one year and welcomed in another! (My littlest one just came in the room and hugged me, yet again, saying, "Happy new year, mom." Memories, I tell you, memories!)
Now diving right into my thoughts this morning, God brought this passage directly into my scope:
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.
All of us, then, who are mature,
should take such a view of things.
And if on some point you think differently,
that too God will make clear to you.
Philippians 3:13-15
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.
All of us, then, who are mature,
should take such a view of things.
And if on some point you think differently,
that too God will make clear to you.
Philippians 3:13-15
"Forgetting what is behind...." Sometimes that can be a sizable challenge, especially when life has dealt us blows we didn't see coming. Truth is it takes time to reckon with these types of blows... to come out of the "shock" phase and into the "coming to grips" phase.
Surrendering into the unplanned, and often painful, events of life is not surrendering into doom and gloom when God is Abba in one's life. Quite the opposite in fact.
Often times I weary from all the glorified phrases we come up with that sound great -- that sound "faith-full" -- but fall flat upon the heavy-laden soul. Often times such phrases can be like trying to fill one's sails with a hand-held fan!
It doesn't work.
Truth is God more than understands the make-up of the human soul... He created it. He knows it takes time to recover from a stumble, a wound, or an all-out fall. Much like a caring parent, God doesn't expect a hurting child, for whatever reason, to "suck it up," hold back the tears, be strong in the face of sadness, shock, loneliness.
No, He holds us gently until the tears subside and our words of expression run out. Only then --- only then -- can we truly forget what is behind and press forward.
In those intimate moments between us and our Father, a supernatural exchange takes place. He takes our pain, dismay, loneliness, failures, tears, and hopelessness in those moments of realness, and returns to us His love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Moving forward doesn't happen by "sucking it up" ... by muscling our faith to subdue our wounds. No. It happens by being transparent. "When I am weak, then I am strong..." for those who abide in Him.
I deeply appreciate this truth: "For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength." (I Corinthians 1:25)
I much more prefer His "weakness" than my supposed (and woefully inadequate) strength.
If 2010 visited you with blows that took the wind out of your sails, I want to strongly encourage you to simply take time today with Abba Father. Lay your head upon His shoulder... look out into the great expanse of 2011 that lays out before you... and talk out 2010 with Him...give time and place for the supernatural exchange to take place. There is tremendous healing that occurs in His presence.... tremendous release found only with Him.
You can not... you will not... move forward "toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called (you) heavenward in Christ Jesus" until you take the time and address the past in the presence of the only One who can exchange hurt for healing.
So very thankful that He will escort me through 2011 and reveal many spectacular attributes of Himself as I choose to abide in Him... and He in me! How about you?
Loving you today....
Deborah
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