“…I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God,through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to Heaven.”
Philippians 3:13-14 (NLT)

JUNE 4 - The Nativity—a familiar scene of the Savior’s tranquil birth—gives hope to the world by His eventual death, the means through which the darkness of our past is forever erased. And that is exactly why many today do not even wish to celebrate the Nativity scene: they instead choose darkness over the Light. But God went to great lengths to bestow upon us a new future, and is willing to grant it to anyone who embraces it. Enthusiastically He tells us, “For I know the plans I have for you…they are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” God has a good future awaiting us. But how do we possess that great future? One way is to learn from others’ mistakes. Consider the Israelites. They incessantly looked back on their past rather than hopefully toward their future. They were unwilling to fight for the very freedom for which they prayed.

The future God has for us does not come because we want it—we must continuously fight for it. It takes great effort, but the rewards are well worth the cost. The apostle Paul said it like this, “I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead…” Only by focusing on where we are going do we escape where we are. Our entry into the future is dependent upon our departure from our past. We need to open God’s Word and begin to see the tomorrow He has for us. It is a bright and wonderful future!

Daily Confession

Father, I thank You that I do not look back, for there is no future in my past. I press forward to the bright future of hope and blessings You have for me.

Family Scripture Reading

Acts 5

Featured Resource

Problem Solving - CD

You might ask, “How does solving others’ problems help me to achieve the life I desire?” The answer is found in one of the powerful principles Dr. Robb Thompson shares in this series. Based on Ephesians 6:8, it states: “Whatever you make happen for others, God will make happen for you.”

Your life will begin to quickly advance as you learn how to become an answer, and not a question, to those to whom you have been assigned. Promotion and favor will chase you down as you implement Dr. Thompson’s practical yet powerful principles. Here are just a few:

• Your value to your employer is in direct proportion to the problems you are willing to solve for him.
• You will only be remembered for the problems you solve or the problems you create.
• When you solve a greater problem, you will receive a greater reward.
• Don’t try to compete with people – compete against mediocrity.

Whether you need to see advancement in your career, business, relationships, or personal effectiveness, don’t miss out on this opportunity to take your life to the next level. The only one who can stop your promotion is you!

Posted under past

“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:13-14 (NKJV)

June 1 - With the advent of the Messiah, every individual of Jewish ancestry either remains a prisoner of their religious past, or through Jesus, becomes a pioneer of a God-planned future. Which is it for you: Will you allow the enemy to imprison you to your past, or will you put on the armor of God and fight for the future God promised you? Just because we are saved doesn’t mean we are guaranteed a good future. We are promised a future, but so were the children of Israel. They were presented with the Promised Land but never entered it because they were prisoners of their past.

Put yourself in the shoes of an eighteen-year-old who just graduated from high school. Your wealthy uncle comes and informs you that he would like to pay for your college education (all four years). Wouldn’t you be excited? Sure you would. That is exactly what God did for us. He gave us salvation free of charge, without having to do anything to acquire it. But just because you have a scholarship to college doesn’t mean you are exempt from attending a variety of classes, doing hours of homework, and studying for final exams. Unless you are diligent to do those things, you won’t make it through all four years.

In the same way, God delivered you from your past and promised you a great future. But unless you put in the time to mediate on His Word, go to church, love people, and obey Him, you won’t possess that great future. It remains true: You’re either a prisoner to your past, or a pioneer of your future.

Daily Confession

Father, I thank You that I forget the things behind and reach forward to those ahead.

Family Scripture Reading

Acts 3

Featured Resource

The Standard - CD

A standard is an object that defines, represents, or records potential. It is a decree or level of requirement, excellence, or attainment. Simply put, it is the yardstick against which we measure or lives.

As believers, our standard is the cross of Jesus Christ. The defining factor of our life is the sacrifice Jesus made at Calvary. Jesus overcame temptation and defeated the enemy making it possible for us to do the same. He set a standard and became a representation of our potential.

As we model our character after the character of Jesus and model our lives in accordance with the Word of God, we become able to overcome temptation and defeat the enemy just like Jesus did. Be instructed and inspired through this powerful teaching by Linda Thompson. God’s Word and the victory of the cross can be the defining standard of your life!

Posted under Choices