Hey Champions!

I am so glad to continue this blog from the last two weeks!  A couple of weeks ago, we talked about not reaching your goals but pressing on. Last week we talked about letting go of the past and laying hold of the promises of God. I hope all of you are working on these two areas in your life! This week we want to add one more piece to this puzzle that will help you to have a more successful 2019. Isn’t God so awesome? He tells us exactly how to have a successful life in Him, and it’s found in His Word.

Once again, we are going to continue in Philippians 3, but we are going to start with verse 14. Paul states, “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Our 2019 is going to be different than all the years before, because we have already decided in the last two weeks that we are letting go and pressing on. We just needed to add another goal for our success to come forth, and Paul gave it to us in verse 14. You may think it’s the word press, and that is a great thing to do! But, that’s not it. You may think it’s the word goal, and that is awesome! We should all set goals and press towards that goal, but that’s not it. And of course, prize is a great word!  Who doesn’t like prizes? We have even preached on being prize minded, but that’s not it. No, the word for today is UPWARD. Upward? What’s the big deal with the word upward?

Well, let’s look at the definition of upward. Upward means to move toward a higher place. No matter what situation may come our way in 2019, we are moving to a higher place. We are not going to take the low road of worry and regret but take the high road of upward motion in God.  Trust Him and His word, and press on to what the word says about you and your life. Read the Word and you will see, it’s all an upward motion in God.

Now, let’s re-word Philippians 3:14 using this definition of upward: “I press toward the goal for the prize of moving forward to a higher call of God in Christ Jesus.” As long as you continue to forget the past mistakes, laying hold of what Christ did for you, pressing forward in it and always moving to a higher place in God, you will end 2019 better than you began it! Does this mean that you won’t have any trials or situations come along? No! It just means you will handle those situations better because you are moving toward a higher place.

So, let’s go, Champions! Let’s make 2019 our best year yet. Let’s determine that no matter what comes our way, we are pressing forward and moving upward to what God has called us to do!  

- Coach Brim

Hey Champs!

Today, we are going to talk about laying hold and letting go.  

Last week we talked about how the Apostle Paul was such a champion because he was able to press on even though he did not achieve his goal. Philippians 3:12 states,

“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid of me.”

In other words, Paul did not reach his goal, nor was he perfect in it, BUT he pressed on. Praise God! We all need to have the same mentality of Paul: press on!  This is a champion attitude!

Now, let’s talk about the rest of this verse: “That I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid of me.” Jesus has already laid hold of many things for you during the resurrection of Christ. He laid hold of salvation. He laid hold of healing. He laid hold of grace and mercy. He laid hold of forgiveness; and he laid hold of peace, joy, and prosperity. These are all completed works by Jesus. They are just part of His promise when you accept Him as your savior. But, Paul had a part to play. He had to lay hold of what Jesus had already laid hold of! Just as Paul had a part to play, so do we as we continue to reach for our goals in God in 2019. We have to lay hold of what Christ already laid hold of for us.

In Philippians 3:13 Paul continues, “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.” In other words, I let go of those things behind me and reach forward to those things ahead of me. For us to lay hold of the promises, sometimes that means we have to let go of the past. I love Philippians 3:12-13 because that is exactly what Paul is saying. I am not perfect, I did not reach my goal but hey, guess what, I am letting go of that and moving forward.  In moving forward, I am laying hold of everything Christ has laid hold of for me!

I am pressing towards peace, joy, health and prosperity in my life. I am pressing forward in reaching my goals that I have set in bringing me closer to God. Even though my thoughts say, “you had those same goals last year and didn’t achieve it, what makes you think you will this year?” My answer is, “I am forgetting the things of the past and reaching forward! I press forward in what God wants for my life.”

Weight loss goals, I press forward. Getting closer to God, I press forward! Starting a new job, I press forward! Having better relationships with friends, I press forward! Whatever it may be, press forward! Forget the past and lay hold of my future.

-Coach Brim

Hey Champion Partners and Friends!

Can you believe that 2019 has begun? I am so excited for what God has in store for the Body of Christ heading into this new year. By the world’s standards, a new year is always a good time to start over. This time of year, we see so many people making new year’s resolution and trying their best to keep those resolutions. But, for us to move forward with our “new year, new me” campaign, we have to let go of the past. We have to let go of all the things in 2018 that slowed us down from completing our goals. Champions do not focus on past losses, they focus on new game plans to overcome. We will meet all kinds of situations while navigating through 2019, just as we did in 2018, but our outlook must be one of pressing on.

Paul stated in Philippians 3:12 (NLT), “Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on [a]so that I may lay hold of that [b]for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.” 

This is such an encouraging scripture because even Paul, the man who wrote most of the New Testament, says “not that I have obtained it!” Paul stated here that whatever goal Paul had set, he has not obtained it yet. Then he goes on to say, “or have already become perfect.” In other words, he hasn’t obtained the goal nor is he perfect in that goal. This is the apostle Paul! He is saying, “I’m not there yet.”  Wow! How many of you have felt like Paul at the end of one year going into the next year? You may have had lots of things on your vision card, or you may have posted on social media all your new year’s resolution. Maybe you look back at the end of the year and say, just like Paul, “Not that I have obtained that!” We all go through that in one area of our life or another. But! Look what Paul continues with: BUT I PRESS ON!! This is what made Paul successful in God - he pressed on! I may not have completed that goal but I keep pressing forward in that goal. Don’t get discouraged. Press on! Paul did not get discouraged, he pressed on. If he can do it, so can you.

This attitude that Paul had is what made him a champion: pressing on. I encourage you, whatever may come your way in 2019, press on!  Focus on the goal God has set before you, and BELIEVE that 2019 will be a prosperous year as you press on in the things of God.

-Coach Brim