Sometime when we come to the end of the year, as we are now, we tend to want to look back over our lives. What was it we did right, what was it we did wrong. While this may seem like a good idea, the Bible tells us a different story.
See what happens when we look back is we tend to dwell on all the negative things we did. We tend to rehash old conversations in our head. Someone said something that hurt us. Maybe we made a mistake that everyone was talking about for a while. We look at the choices we made and wish we would have made different ones.
The Bible tells us in Philippians chapter 3 that we should forget those things behind us and press forward toward the things in front of us. We are called to finish this “race” strong. We are called to press on toward the mark. What does that mean? Look at it like this.
Think about a person who competes in a race. They compete to win a prize. The goal is to finish the race. The prize we are looking to attain is eternal access to the Father. Our goal is to finish this life strongly. What about a soldier? The Bible calls us soldiers in God army. Soldiers are there to fight a good fight and to win the battle.
In both of these instances, the athlete and the soldier will hinder their objective if they are dwelling on the past. Why bog us down focusing on our past mistakes? Even focusing on past wins is not a good idea. Focusing on past mistakes will keep us bound to the mistake. Replaying the image over and over in our heads will cause us to make the same mistakes over and over again.
Focusing on past wins can cause us to be overconfident. When we become overconfident, we tend to let our guard down. Maybe we do not feel the need to prepare or keep ourselves ready. This is one reason the Bible tells us to stop looking back and start pressing forward. Make new goals for this next year. Focus on what you will do to attain the objectives you have set for yourself. Maybe we pray a little more, fast a little more, read our bibles a little more.
Maybe we ask God to show us the direction he has for us this upcoming year. Maybe we ask Him to lead and guide us. If we must look back, maybe we repent for any area where we were disobedient. May we all focus strong this upcoming year. Let’s make it our best year ever. No resolutions, just a plan to keep moving forward.
That will I speak 