"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, 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."
The Christian life is also to be continual growth - rendering love unto God for His gifts. This was the focus of Paul in prison, chained to a Roman guard, under horrible conditions. Yet despite that, he writes these wonderfully positive words of renewal
“I press on to the goal.” Maybe you didn’t do so well in personal devotions last year, having times of personal prayer and Bible study. If not, a good goal for 2025 is time with God in the morning or at night or at lunch break. Don’t stop working at it. If need be start with small steps and work up from there. Time alone with the Lord is never wasted. He has things He wants to share with you through His Word by the Holy Spirit. God will make your prayers more insightful and increase your desire for the Word.
Renewal is also a time of witnessing to and praying for people that need the Lord. We have times in our church, not only with special outreach programs for our youth and children, but adults as well. Pray about inviting someone to the men’s or women’s Bible studies or Sunday morning learning opportunities. Challenge a friend, if he or she is not part of a church to tune into our services which are recorded on YouTube and see if you can talk about what they have seen or heard. Do they have questions?
Renewal this new year might be the work to improve a quality or a talent. More than 2,000 years ago, a young Greek artist named Timanthes studied under a respected tutor. After several years, the teacher's efforts seemed to have paid off when Timanthes painted an exquisite work of art. Unfortunately, he became so enraptured with the painting that he spent days gazing at it. One morning when he arrived to admire his work, he was shocked to find it blotted out with paint. Angry, he ran to his teacher, who admitted he had destroyed the painting. "I did it for your own good. That painting was retarding your progress." Timanthes took his teacher's advice and produced Sacrifice of Iphigenia, which is regarded as one of the finest paintings of antiquity.
Adversity in life is God's way of refining and beautifying our lives into His image. He is the Master Artist who constantly shapes the way He wants us to be. Don't stop trying to improve. Ask God to renew a right spirit within you. Let Him lead you into new opportunities this coming year. Be willing to risk something for Jesus.
If you haven't been walking with God, He still loves you and wants you back. It is never too late for God to refinish the colors of your heart. If you are walking with God, take comfort because He promises to love you unconditionally.
Application: Get in God’s word and focus on His promises and unconditional love.
Prayer: Lord, I love the truth that as I seek You in Your Word and prayer, You work in me to make my prayers more insightful and increase my desire for Your Word! Thank you Lord!
