Press Forward and Upward

 

Press Forward and Upward

Today's Scripture:

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:14, ESV.

Today's Word:

God is constantly calling us to higher places in Him. He wants us to know Him more. He wants us to know His ways, walk in His ways, and experience His victory.

The apostle Paul said in Philippians that he was pressing on toward the goal of Christ’s calling. How did he press forward? In verse 13 he says, “One thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead.” See, in order to press forward, we have to let go of the weight of the past. We let go by forgiving and choosing not to dwell on things that can hold us back. We have to lighten our load, so to speak, so that we can rise higher in the things God has for us.

Today, if you are struggling in an area, ask God what you need to let go of. Sometimes, we need to let go of the good as well as the bad. “Good” can be the very thing that keeps you from “great.” Let go of the past, forgive, and press forward and upward to the prize of the high calling of Jesus Christ!

Prayer for Today:

Father, today I release the past. I let go of the good and the bad. Search my heart. Show me any area where I need to make adjustments so I can move forward and upward with You in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

 

What to Do with the Truth

13 hours ago

by Rick Warren

“You must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News.” (Colossians 1:23 NLT)

Once you’ve discovered the truth, there are four things you need to do with it:

1. Believe it. Colossians 1:23 says, “You must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News” (NLT). The Bible tells us to believe the truth and stand firmly in it.
    
2. Do it. Truth is not just an intellectual exercise. It’s something you do. You practice it. You apply it. You live it. You obey it. Before you start learning any other new truth, why don’t you start doing the ones you already know? The Bible says in Philippians 3:16, “We must hold on to the progress we have already made.”
    
3. Stand for it. The Bible says that we “must always stand for the truth” (2 Corinthians 13:8). Don’t be ashamed in a postmodern world that says it doesn’t really matter. Stand for truth. The Bible tells us our responsibility is to never oppose the truth but to stand for it at all times. We need to be people of truth in this relativistic age.
    
4. Spread it. 3 John 1:8 says we “must support believers who go on trips like this so that we can work together with them in spreading the truth” (GW). What does that mean? That means you figure out where God is working, and you join him there. It means you go when he tells you to go and serve where he tells you to serve. What are the trips in your church that you can support? What is the ministry God has called you to? Obey God in this so that you can help spread the truth.

“Let everything you do reflect your love of the truth and the fact that you were in dead earnest about it” (Titus 2:7 LB). I’ll be honest with you: There’s a lot in the Bible that I don’t understand. And there’s a lot there that is uncomfortable to me. But the fact is, it is the truth. It will always lead me where I need to go, and it will always tell me what is right.
Now you know it, too. What are you going to do about it?
Would you pray this prayer today? “God, I’m stepping across the line today. Jesus Christ, I want to believe you are the way, the truth, and the life. I want to know the truth so the truth will set me free. I want to believe it. I want to do it. I want to stand for it. I want to spread the truth. I’m in. I’m putting my trust in you. In your name I pray. Amen.”