BONUS: Pressing Forward in 2023

I recently gave a short New Year exhortation at my church and since we captured the audio, I thought we could post it as a special addition for those who may be interested. In this short message (15 minutes), I emphasis Paul’s statement in vs 12-14 in which he confesses:

“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.

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.“

This week (and month) marks the beginning of a new year and the opportunity to assess and possibly adjust our journey through life. The start of a new calendar year is a good a time as any to cry out to Almighty God as the Psalmist did in Psalm 26:2, “Examine me, O Lord, and test me; Try my mind and heart.”