Have a Happy New You!
Philippians 3:12-14
12 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. 13 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, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
I read this week of someone’s wishes for a New Year:
May your hair, your teeth, your face-lift, your abs, and your stocks not fall; and may your blood pressure, your triglycerides, your cholesterol, your white blood count and your mortgage interest not rise.
May you get a clean bill of health from your dentist, your cardiologist, your gastroenterologist, your urologist, your proctologist, your podiatrist, your psychiatrist, your plumber, and the IRS.
May you find a way to travel from anywhere to anywhere during rush hour in less than an hour, and when you get there may you find a parking space. May my children get into the right schools, sports, etc.
According to MyGoals.com resolutions include 27% resolve to focus more on health & fitness; 15% resolve to focus more on personal growth, and personal finances; 12% resolve to focus more on their career; 9% on education; 7% on home improvement; 6% on time management; 5% on family and relationships, as well as recreation and leisure.
Someone has said, “People are so worried about what they eat between Christmas and the New Year, but they really should be worried about what they eat between the New Year and Christmas.”
Sadly enough, many will make resolutions that they will break within a few weeks. The reason is that they may have made resolutions, but they haven’t found the right solutions. IN other words, long before a person can have a Happy New Year they must start by becoming a Happy New You.
To leave the old with a burst of song;
To recall the right and forgive the wrong;
To forget the things that bind you fast
To the vain regrets of the year that’s past;
To have the strength to let go your hold
Of the not worth while of the days grown old;
To dare go forth with a purpose true,
To the unknown task of the year that’s new;
To help your brother along the road,
To do his work and lift his load;
To add your gift to the world’s good cheer,
Is to have and to give a Happy New Year.
In these familiar verses of our text, the apostle Paul gives us a formula, not just for New Year’s Day, but for every day. He outlines how a person can become a happy new you; thus, greatly improving their chances of having a Happy New Year.
In discovering what it takes to have a happy new you, let’s consider Paul’s word:
Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Pastor Rick in News and Views said it well:
“Every sunrise… every Sunday…and every New Year… is a reminder from God that it is never too late for a fresh start!
No matter how messed up our past has been, we serve a God who “makes all things new.”
In fact, God commands us to not dwell on the past, but to look ahead in faith: “Forget about what’s happened in the past! Don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, and watch for the brand-new thing I am doing. Can you see it?” Isaiah 43:18-19 (Mes)
NOW is the time to let go of your old fears… useless worries… obsolete attitudes… and self-defeating habits. Don’t drag these into another year! God is giving you an opportunity for a new beginning.”
Praying for all you to have a Happy New You year!
