2016 is almost up, and very soon we are going to see New Year’s resolutions flood social media. I have been reflecting on this year and have been thinking about how I would like to move forward in the New Year. No, I don’t have any goals like losing weight or saving a certain amount of money – although I do aspire to do those things in 2017. No, this year I want to focus on forgetting those things that are in the past.

Philippians 3:13 (NIV) says, “Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

A major problem I’ve had this year is letting go, and anger, bitterness and sorrow crept in as a result. I haven’t let go of and forgiven persons who hurt me. Someone I considered my best friend for more than two decades ended our friendship three years ago for reasons I still do not know today. My relationship with my father is sketchy. I’m still mourning my former married life, and the struggles of single motherhood are constant triggers of remembering how things used to be. Everything has not gone according to plan this year, and I haven’t been able to effectively LET THOSE THINGS GO.

And the negative things of 2016 have not outweighed the great things. I’ve had a number of great surprises this year for which I am truly grateful. So, I know that if I want to continue grabbing hold of what God has in store for me and my children in the future, I have to forget those things that are behind me and press forward.

Pressing forward means forgiving. Pressing forward means being grateful for times past and thankful for what is today. Pressing forward means setting my eyes on Jesus who knows the end from the beginning and has good things planned for me and my family. Pressing forward means trusting God even when things don’t make sense. Pressing forward means looking at things with my spiritual eyes so I can see that ultimately I will have the victory. My intention for the New Year is to keep pressing forward with great expectation of things to come.

I know people will set many lofty goals for 2017, but I just want to forget those things. Those things that have held me back from the joy of my salvation and from enjoying the blessings God’s given me today.