STRAINING FORWARD
Kendra Intihar
Today's Scripture: “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.” Philippians 3:13-14, NIV
Theme: Looking forward to a New Year and a fresh start are part of God's plan for us.
“SQUIRREL!”
In our current culture, I believe that distraction is the enemy of diligence. Our minds are constantly inundated with messaging, media, noise, and interruptions. It’s seems to be a cultural epidemic: when we start something important, our brains “see a squirrel” and send us off in another direction.
A few years ago, I realized that I had become a distraction addict. I would be composing a response to a co-worker’s email, but as I was typing, I would remember that I never finished running a report from earlier that day. When I would go to run the report, I would realize that the information needed to be reorganized for clarity, so I’d put it off until I had time to reorganize it. And then I’d notice that it would be even more helpful if I color-coded something in another document before attaching it. This would go on and on until I would completely forget about that email response I never sent. I was working, but it was busy work…it was just a hamster wheel of unproductive activity.
FOCUS
A few months ago, my propensity for distraction became such a hindrance to me that I wrote a note for myself and taped it to the top of my laptop screen. Now I see it every time I open my computer to work, including at this very moment as I’m typing these words. It says, “Do what you’re doing.” The message is simple, but it has helped me so much, and I am carrying it with me into New Year. God has given us important work to do–work that will bring us closer to Him and give us provision. We just need to do what we’re doing, what He has asked or given us to do.
FUTURE
Yes, I need to stay in the “here and now” to be on track with God. I also must forget the past and focus on the future that God has for me. There is a fine balance of living just in this moment and having an eternal perspective. Scripture tells us to make the best use of our time because “the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16). I believe that given the chance, the enemy will steal our fruitful outcomes by distracting us from the work God gives us to do, stealing our thoughts from God’s plan to our current situations. The good news is that when we commit our work to the Lord, our plans succeed (Proverbs 16:3).
Make It Personal: Some of us need to learn to “stay in the moment” and focus. Others of us need strength to “forget what is behind” and in our past. All of us need to press forward, sins forgiven, new slate, and New Year. God has important work for us to do; but we won’t accomplish it if we don’t get busy, get focused, and do it. This week, put your work into His hands and watch Him begin to free you from the things that keep you from pressing on,
Pray: Lord, please meet me in my need. Help me to focus when I need to do so. Help me to put away the past, straining and pressing ahead with all my might, towards You and Your plan. Help me to hear You...in the moment... and obey. Give me an eternal perspective, even in the daily work I must accomplish. In Your Name I pray. Amen.
Read: Ephesians 5:15-16; Proverbs 16:3; Ecclesiastes 9:10
Weekly Memory Verse: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14, ESV