The gift of a brand new year

The gift, part 4 of 4
Pastor Vince DiPaola

“I have not yet reached my goal, and I am not perfect. But Christ has taken hold of me. So I keep on running and struggling to take hold of the prize. “ (Philippians 3:12, CEV)

“…we too may live a new life.*” (Romans 6:4b, NIV)

“…be made new in the attitude of your minds;” (Ephesians 4:23, NIV)

The New Year Is A Life–Change Gift When We…

I. Strategically forget about the past.

_”No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past…” _(Philippians 3:13a, NLT)

New Years gift: Learn lessons from the past but forget the junk by giving your shortcomings to God.

“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves… If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:8–9, NIV)

_” Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. For I am about to do a brand-new thing. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? ” (Isaiah 43:18–19, NIV & NLT)

II. Enthusiastically face the future.

“…I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead…” (Philippians 3:13b, NLT)

New Years gift: Commit your life plans to God and keep trusting Him to wisely manage your future.

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” (Proverbs 16:3, NIV)

“For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. “ (Jeremiah 29:11, NLT)

III. Courageously flourish in the present.

“…I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13b–14, NLT & NIV)

New Years gift: see every single day as a gift from God by living it to the max, focused on Christ.

“So don’t be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time. “ (Matthew 6:34, LB)

” Let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish.” (Hebrews 12:1b–2a, NLT)