Prayers for Christmas = Holiday or Holy Day

Philippians 3:10-16 (NLT): “I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead! I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. But we must hold onto the progress we have already made.”  

I Want To Know Christ and The Power of His Resurrection. The “Apostle Paul” wanted to “Know Christ.” He wanted to “Experience” the “Mighty Power” that raised him from the dead. His “Declaration” was that he was going to “Press On” to possess that “Per-fection.”

But I Focus On This One Thing: Forgetting the Past and Looking Forward to What Lies Ahead.                

To Press On You Need to Focus and Forget

FOCUS: (Say FOCUS!) “Directed Attention.” Someone once said: “Wherever your focus goes, your energy flows.” Whatever has your focus, controls your life.  Devils—Seduction; Deficits—Depletion; Distractions—Interruption. Definition: “a thing that prevents someone from giving full attention to something else.”

Your Focus Determines Your Future. 

At Crossroads Community Church We = Focus on the Finish

Acronym = Follow One Course Until Success.

To get what you want, you have to Focus on what you want.

“Stop looking at what was lost and land on what’s left,” Joel Johnson.

FORGET (Say FORGET ABOUT IT!). Forget: “put out of one’s mind; cease to think of or consider.”  You can’t move forward if you’re stuck in the past. 

Forget what was and accept what is.               

Some People Have to Forget: The Past, The Problems, The Pain, The People.

Proverbs 4:20-27 (NLT): “My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech. Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.”

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Rev. Bryan A. Tomes 

Crossroads Community Church 

www.crossroadsconnects.com