Moving Forward

I've started this post twice now, calling it "Reflection" and then "Catching Up." Nearly a week into the new year, I think I've missed the window of "reflection time" and "catching up" sounds like I'm already behind. Neither title fits. However, "Moving Forward" fits very well.

So often we get caught up in the "newness" of the new year. I know lots of people, myself included, who like the fresh start of a new year. But, during my prayer time this morning, a wise friend reminded me that every day is a new day, a fresh start. Lamentations 3: 22-23 tells us, "Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." The Apostle Paul forgot what was behind and pressed forward toward the prize that was before him in Christ Jesus (Phillipians 3: 13-14).

I cannot forget 2008 and the changes, grief, circumstances and joys it brought and I don't think Paul wants us to forget in this manner. More likely he wants us to forget (and forgive), as God does, separating us from our sins as far as the east is from the west. We must leave our past behind us, separated as far from today and our future as the east from the west. If we cling to the past, we cannot move forward and embrace 2009. And, if we think too far ahead, we might find ourselves worrying. Jesus taught us not to worry about tomorrow for today has enough trouble of its own. I heard recently that Satan's greatest tool against believers is guilt. If he robs us of the joy we have in Christ, he makes us completely ineffective. Who wants to share in a hopeless, joyless faith? How can we shine the light Christ puts in our hearts if we stay shackled to the past and its burdens? How can we be a light on a hill if we are so afraid of tomorrow we bury ourselves in worry?

Today, I am moving forward. I could reflect on the past year and I did, but just long enough to know what I need to do differently this year. And I could catch up, but I have little in this new year to think about now besides what is ahead. I have goals to reach, habits to change, a purpose to fulfill. All of these things come one day at a time. And if today, I am not all that I can be, when I wake up tomorrow, I will start new again. And every failure will be another stepping stone to success. As far as tomorrow goes, I rather like Scarlett's take on it, "I can't think about that right now. If I do, I'll go crazy. I'll think about that tomorrow."

Happy New Year!