New BeginningsSample

“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

- Philippians 3:20

Shifting Our Focus

We know that God is steady, faithful, and unwavering, but how does this apply to the middle minutes of our day? How does this truth change our day-to-day thought process and uphold us in moments of frustration and disappointment? Because of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, we have a promise of new life in Him. We can find abundance in our current lack because of the future hope we have in Christ. 

In Philippians 3, Paul writes that he has not yet attained his goal, nor is he already perfect. This passage is coated in grace, as we see that Paul's goal, his ultimate prize, is Christ Himself. Knowing that he is imperfect and will fail, he continues to pursue the very heart of Jesus. This logic might seem backward to us, for we tend to be afraid to seek things when we know failure is a possibility. And yet, as our world is tainted by sin, so is our every thought and action. Because of humanity's natural state, failure is inevitable, and our efforts will never really be enough. However, we can cling to the truth that Christ is and always will be enough. 

As believers, our aim is Jesus. In our lack, He carries and sustains us. We press on to know Him, the founder and perfecter of our faith. Our hope rests in the truth that even in our imperfections, Jesus redeems and restores us to the Father. We wait with anticipation that He will one day make all things new, for He reigns as King forever. 

Ask and apply:

1. Read Philippians 3:12-21. How do we press on in difficulty, laziness, or in seasons that feel dry? Why do we have this hope?


2. How does the grace of God impact the way we approach our lives?


3. On day 2, we talked about the difficulty of maintaining a time we spend with God. A lot of the time, Bible-in-a-year plans can feel a bit overwhelming, so we end up quitting or saying that we’ll get to it “next year.” Here are some practical steps on how we can remain consistent in our Bible reading:
   
   
   
   1. Choose a designated time of day (i.e., first thing in the morning, evening, your lunch break, etc.) and a designated location to read (preferably not your bed!)
   
   
   2. Choose a book of the Bible or a specific passage to focus on each day (i.e., a Psalm per day, one of the gospels, etc.). Read a chapter or short passage each day; oftentimes we tend to bite off more than we can chew, and this leads us to feel overwhelmed!
   
   
   3. Set a timer for 10, 15, 20 minutes to help you stay focused for that amount of time. As this muscle is developed, you can increase the time you spend in the Word. Again, the goal is not to feel overwhelmed, but to know Jesus more deeply.
   
   
   4. Some additional things to keep in mind: 
      
      
      
      1. Give yourself grace. Your time with God does not have to look the same as everyone else’s. In different seasons, the length of time or amount we read can vary, and that’s okay. The key is consistency in seeking to know God.
      
      
      2. Memorizing Scripture is a great tool to help you remain in the Word.
      
      
      3. Ask for accountability. Developing habits on our own can get tough, so we should ask friends to check in or read alongside us.