“…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 3:13b-14
Well, we have come to the end of the year - just a few hours left in 2024. And what a year it was … or was it? We Americans had a few hurricanes and an election. Overall, though, it was a pretty mundane year - unless you are a fan of Tupperware: the iconic company filed for bankruptcy.
I would venture to say the impactful things of the year, for good or bad, were on a personal level: injury, sickness, death, recovery, marriage, birth, and so on. We often hold on to the good, but the “bad” holds us back. Remember God has been with you in all that has passed. In the coming year He will continue to be with you through His Word and the church AND through the relationships you have with friends and family, so encourage those relationships with friends and family, but most importantly with God. If you have faltered or failed in any way over the last year, let it go and strive toward the goal to which Paul strove - the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Prayer: Lord God, thank you for being my constant companion through Word and Sacrament, through the ministry of the church, and through the forgiveness of sins. Continue to be with me always. Make your presence known to me. Whether this year brings good or bad, let me rejoice in your presence, grace, and mercy. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.