Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14).
It’s time to forget about those things that we failed to accomplish in this past year, and resolve to keep working to complete unfinished tasks in the new year. We can look back at 2014 and feel defeated because we didn’t see fruit from our labors, or we can look at 2014 as the year that the Lord encouraged us to prepare the soil, and water the fields. That tells me to get ready, because 2015 is our year to see the harvest of souls. While we often felt that our labor was in vain, it is good to know that God did not forsake us; he has taken great care to prepare us to receive the blessing that we will not be able to contain.
He is not slack concerning his promises, and one thing that he promised is that he would never leave us or forsake us.
This year has been challenging for many people, but our prayers have been heard; our tears are stored in vials in heaven, and the Lord is getting ready to move the mountains that have become obstacles in our path. We will not hide; we will stand in the name of Jesus Christ, and pick up our spiritual weapons and claim the victory that has already been won.
I dare say that we all have those nagging things that we wish we could have handled better, but as Paul tells us in Philippians, “forget those things that are behind.”
Satan would like nothing better than for us to dwell on our past mistakes, and not focus on the coming year, because he knows that even after he has attacked us in so many ways; through health, finances, heartaches, and disappointments in the past year; we will still win if we keep pressing toward the mark. We are so close to the Lord’s return, that satan will try everything in his limited powers to dissuade us from reaping the victories that are already ours.
If we could see the coming year as the Lord sees it, we wouldn’t want to stay weeping over past failures; we would be charging forward with a shout and a victory dance as we see our enemies fall under our feet.
Don’t lose hope if you have struggled in the past year, because the Lord has not forgotten you.
He tells us in John 15:16, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit–fruit that will last–and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” Whatsoever we ask; he will do it, and I for one, believe in that promise.
In the Time of the Lattereign 