“Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own…forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14
New Year’s Eve places us on a thin edge of time. Behind us lies a year filled with moments we cherish and moments we would rather forget. Ahead of us stretches an unwritten and uncertain future. Few voices speak more clearly into this moment than the apostle Paul, who writes not from comfort or certainty, but from prison. Even there, Paul refuses to be defined by the past. Instead, he declares a posture for faithful living: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead.
In Paul’s world, Roman runners were trained never to look back during a race. To glance over one’s shoulder could cause a stumble or a loss of momentum. The runner’s focus had to remain fixed on the finish line. Paul borrows this image intentionally. Faith, like running, requires focus. Forward movement demands that we resist the temptation to continue our journey while preoccupied with the past.
As this year closes, Paul’s words invite us into two honest questions.
1. What are the things I need to put behind me?
Some things must be released if we are to move forward with freedom. Failures that haunt us, resentments we cling to, and regrets that still whisper accusations—all of these can quietly disrupt our future if we allow them to travel with us.
Anyone who has tried to move into a new home knows the importance of sorting before packing. If everything is boxed indiscriminately, clutter simply relocates. But wise movers ask, What still belongs in my life—and what has served its purpose? New Year’s Eve offers us a similar moment of discernment.
Putting things behind us does not mean denying pain or pretending wounds did not happen. Paul himself carried scars, memories, and consequences. What he refused to carry was shame as an identity. Paul entrusted even his past to the grace of God.
For us, putting things behind may mean forgiving someone who hurt us, or perhaps, forgiving ourselves. It may mean loosening our grip on habits that drain joy, expectations that no longer align with God’s call, or even past successes that tempt us to live on yesterday’s wins rather than focusing on today’s opportunities.
As the spiritual writer Henri Nouwen once said, “We are not what we have done, nor what has been done to us; we are the beloved children of God.” New Year’s Eve gives us permission to leave behind what no longer speaks truth over our lives.
2. What are the things I want to press toward?
Letting go is not the final goal. What are you aiming to improve or to achieve in the new year? Paul reminds us that faith is also about pursuit. “I press on toward the goal,” he says. We press toward the upward call of God in Jesus Christ, not for comfort, applause, or achievement, but because it is the best and most effective way to live.
Pressing on invites us to ask where God may be leading us next. Perhaps it is toward deeper prayer, greater attentiveness to Scripture, or renewed commitment to worship. Maybe it is toward reconciliation, generosity, justice, courage, or rest. For some, pressing on may mean beginning again after disappointment. For others, it may mean continuing faithfully when the journey feels long.
Paul’s vision of the prize is not perfection but direction. Faithfulness is measured not by flawless performance, but by a heart oriented toward God’s call.
As another year begins, we are reminded that God is not finished with us yet. Grace continues to invite, shape, and send us forward to learn, grow, and serve.
As the final hours of this year slip away, we do not cross into the new year alone. The God who has been faithful in our past stands ready to help us navigate the future.
Gracious God, help us place the past behind us and the future before us. Give us courage to release what weighs us down and faith to press on toward what gives life. As we step into a new year, fix our eyes on your way of life and lead us forward with hope. Amen.
Cove Creek Reflections 