ONE THING I DO. Sometimes we claim to be many things and, in end, we are nothing. “One thing you lack,” Jesus said to the rich young man (Mark 10:21). “One is needed.” the Lord said to Martha (Luke 10:42). When, like Mary. we choose to do the indispensable thing, it is the part that no one can take away from us. We need to live for what really matters.

Forgetting those things which are behind. “Forgetting” in the Bible means no longer being influenced or affected by something. When God promises that He will never remember our sins and transgressions again, it does not mean that has a bad memory. What He is saying is that He Will not take our sins into account and will not affect our relationship with Him. We cannot erase the historical fact, but we can erase its meaning. For Paul. his past was not an obstacle to prevent something, but an inspiration to carry it out. Some run while looking backwards and that is why they fall. We have to replace what is behind us with what is ahead.

I press. A man does not become a successful athlete by listening to speeches, watching movies, reading books, or cheering the team on. He does so after intense effort. Let us go for the goal and we will reach the reward. Pressing on is a team effort with God. He does not run in our place and we cannot run alone. We run together.

History tell us that when Napoleon planned to invade Russia. he called the ambassador to tell him that if they offered resistance, they would be totally destroyed. The ambassador strongly replied, » Man proposes. but God disposes.» Then Napoleon added, «Tell your emperor that am the one who proposes and the one who disposes.»

Soon after, the events undermined Napoleon’s aspirations. The pride of the one who believes that he can do something alone is foolishness, while the one who presses on by the grace and promises of the Lord is wise. God proposes and disposes.

“Let the great purposes that constrained Paul to press forward in the face of hardship and difficulty lead you to consecrate yourselves wholly to God’s service. Whatever your hands find to do, do it with your might. Make your work pleasant with songs of praise. If you would have a clean record in the books of heaven, never fret or scold. Let your daily prayer be: Lord, help me to do my best. Teach me how to do better work. Give me energy and cheerfulness’” (This Day with God, p.374).