Devotional: Let It Go

Read Philippians 3:1-16

“Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:13-14, NASB).

Each New Year many people make New Year’s resolution(s). I believe that when people make a resolution that they are serious about reaching their goals. However, by March many people have abandoned their goals. Why is this? I believe that people give up for many reasons. I believe that what most people share in common comes to two basic reasons. First, people have not adequately evaluated what it will take to reach their goal. Also, people are not ready to let go of some things that hold them back. The case of Samantha is an example.

Samantha is in a drug rehab program. She has been reaching her short range goals without too many problems. Samantha has one more goal to reach, and if she does she will have completed the program. Samantha comes in on her last day. Her fellow program members are excited as they anticipate her completion, but instead Samantha comes in with the sad news that she has violated a core principle of the program. She reports that last night she went out with some friends. Her friends were so excited that they starting doing drugs; something that they would normally do on occasions that they celebrate. Samantha joined in with her friends and did drugs also. Now, she will have to restart the program from day one.

Louis, one of the members in the program is angry. He reminds everyone that all along they have been warning Samantha of the dangers of hanging out with her drug buddies. Against the warnings of the program members she continues to live with her drug addicted boyfriend. The members are very disappointed. Samantha has ignored their warnings and now she fails to reach her goals.

In Philippians 3 the apostle Paul tells us how important it is to let go of it. We first read about Paul in Acts 7:58. Paul’s Hebrew name is Saul. As Saul, he is a man of status and notoriety; a highly respected man of the Law. Something happens to Saul. He is met by Jesus on the road to Damascus, and Saul is converted. Now his ultimate goal is to gain the prize that Jesus calls him to. Paul says that he must let go of his past successes so that he will be able to reach his goal.

Have you made a New Year’s resolution? Are you ready to let go of those things that will keep you from reaching your goals?

Prayer: Father we thank you for your grace that enables us to reach goals that you set before us. We want to honor you in all that we do in the coming New Year. Amen