Take Hold

Philippians 3:12–14 NRSV

12 Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.

TAKE HOLD OF WHAT CHRIST HAS FOR YOU

INTRODUCTION

GOOD MORNING, DEAR FRIENDS. IT IS A JOY TO BE GATHERED HERE IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD, UNITED IN FAITH AND FELLOWSHIP. I TRUST THAT THE LORD HAS BEEN YOUR STRENGTH AND YOUR SHIELD, GUIDING YOUR STEPS AND UPHOLDING YOU WITH HIS RIGHTEOUS RIGHT HAND.

AS WE STAND AT THE BEGINNING OF A NEW YEAR, MANY OF US THINK ABOUT WHAT WE HOPE WILL CHANGE, HOW WE’LL GROW, AND WHAT WE WANT TO ACCOMPLISH.

WHETHER THROUGH RESOLUTIONS OR A QUIET HOPE FOR A FRESH START, WE OFTEN FEEL AN INNER NUDGE TO PRESS ON.

BUT THE APOSTLE PAUL REMINDS US THAT MOVING FORWARD IS MORE THAN WISHFUL THINKING. IT INVOLVES ACTIVE PURSUIT—A PRESSING FORWARD WITH PURPOSE. IN PHILIPPIANS 3:12-14, PAUL GIVES US INSIGHT INTO WHAT IT MEANS TO TAKE HOLD OF THE LIFE JESUS HAS CALLED US TO.

AS WE TAKE ON THE CHALLENGES AND BLESSINGS OF A NEW YEAR, LET’S REMEMBER THAT CHRIST HAS PLACED A CALLING ON EACH OF OUR LIVES.

WE DON’T HAVE TO CARRY THE WEIGHT OF THE PAST INTO THE FUTURE; INSTEAD, WE CAN RUN WITH ENDURANCE, FUELED BY GOD’S GRACE AND EMPOWERED BY HIS SPIRIT TO LIVE OUT OUR CALLING FULLY AND FAITHFULLY.

THIS YEAR, MAY WE EMBRACE GOD’S DIRECTION WITH COURAGE, LEANING INTO HIS STRENGTH TO FULFILL THE PURPOSES HE HAS UNIQUELY CRAFTED FOR US.

THESE VERSES ARE A TESTAMENT TO THE RELENTLESS PURSUIT OF CHRIST, THE UNWAVERING FOCUS ON THE ETERNAL PRIZE, AND THE COURAGEOUS RESOLVE TO LEAVE THE PAST BEHIND.

WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT RELEASING REGRETS, REMEMBERING PAST SUCCESSES, AND RESOLUTE STEPS TOWARDS THE FUTURE.

RELEASING REGRETS, BECAUSE WE HAVE ALL MADE MISTAKES, WE HAVE ALL FALLEN SHORT, BUT WE SERVE A GOD OF GRACE AND MERCY WHO FORGIVES AND FORGETS OUR TRANSGRESSIONS.

REMEMBERING PAST SUCCESSES, BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT TO RECALL THE TIMES WHEN WE HAVE BEEN FAITHFUL, WHEN WE HAVE TRIUMPHED OVER TRIALS, AND WHEN WE HAVE SEEN THE HAND OF GOD AT WORK IN OUR LIVES. AND FINALLY,

TAKING RESOLUTE STEPS TOWARDS THE FUTURE, BECAUSE WE ARE NOT CALLED TO REMAIN STAGNANT, BUT TO PRESS ON, TO STRIVE FOR THE PRIZE, AND TO RUN THE RACE WITH ENDURANCE.

RELEASING REGRETS

IN THE VERSES WE'VE READ, PAUL TALKS ABOUT FORGETTING WHAT IS BEHIND. THIS IS A POWERFUL STATEMENT, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE CONSIDER WHO PAUL WAS AND THE LIFE HE HAD LIVED. BEFORE HIS CONVERSION, PAUL WAS KNOWN AS SAUL, A MAN WHO PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS. HE WAS PRESENT AT THE STONING OF STEPHEN, THE FIRST CHRISTIAN MARTYR.

HE WAS ON HIS WAY TO DAMASCUS TO ARREST MORE FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST WHEN HE HAD A LIFE-CHANGING ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS.

PAUL HAD A PAST THAT COULD HAVE BEEN A SOURCE OF DEEP REGRET. YET, HE CHOSE TO FORGET WHAT WAS BEHIND. HE CHOSE TO RELEASE HIS REGRETS.

THIS DOESN'T MEAN THAT HE DEVELOPED AMNESIA OR THAT HE DENIED HIS PAST.

RATHER, IT MEANS THAT HE DID NOT ALLOW HIS PAST TO DEFINE HIM OR DICTATE HIS FUTURE.

HE DID NOT WALLOW IN GUILT OR SHAME. HE ACCEPTED GOD'S FORGIVENESS AND MOVED FORWARD.

THIS IS A LESSON THAT WE ALL NEED TO LEARN. WE ALL HAVE THINGS IN OUR PAST THAT WE REGRET.

WE HAVE ALL MADE MISTAKES. WE HAVE ALL SINNED.

BUT WE CANNOT CHANGE THE PAST. WE CANNOT UNDO OUR MISTAKES. WHAT WE CAN DO IS LEARN FROM THEM, SEEK FORGIVENESS, AND MOVE FORWARD.

THE FIRST ASPECT OF RELEASING REGRETS IS UNDERSTANDING THAT WE ARE NOT DEFINED BY OUR PAST.

OUR IDENTITY IS NOT TIED TO THE MISTAKES WE'VE MADE OR THE SINS WE'VE COMMITTED.

OUR IDENTITY IS FOUND IN CHRIST. IN HIM, WE ARE A NEW CREATION.

THE OLD HAS GONE, THE NEW HAS COME. THIS IS THE TRUTH THAT WE NEED TO EMBRACE. WE NEED TO SEE OURSELVES AS GOD SEES US - FORGIVEN, REDEEMED, LOVED, AND ACCEPTED.

THE SECOND ASPECT OF RELEASING REGRETS IS ACCEPTING GOD'S FORGIVENESS.

WHEN WE CONFESS OUR SINS, GOD IS FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE US AND CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. GOD'S FORGIVENESS IS COMPLETE.

HE REMOVES OUR SINS AS FAR AS THE EAST IS FROM THE WEST.

HE REMEMBERS THEM NO MORE. WE NEED TO ACCEPT THIS FORGIVENESS AND NOT HOLD ONTO GUILT OR SHAME. WE NEED TO LET GO OF OUR REGRETS AND EMBRACE THE FREEDOM THAT COMES WITH FORGIVENESS.

THE THIRD ASPECT OF RELEASING REGRETS IS LEARNING FROM OUR MISTAKES. WHILE WE SHOULD NOT DWELL ON OUR PAST, WE SHOULD LEARN FROM IT. OUR MISTAKES AND FAILURES CAN BE VALUABLE TEACHERS.

THEY CAN SHOW US WHERE WE WENT WRONG AND HOW WE CAN DO BETTER IN THE FUTURE. THEY CAN HELP US GROW AND MATURE. WE SHOULD NOT WASTE OUR REGRETS BUT USE THEM AS STEPPING STONES TO A BETTER FUTURE.

THE FOURTH ASPECT OF RELEASING REGRETS IS MOVING FORWARD. PAUL TALKS ABOUT STRAINING TOWARD WHAT IS AHEAD. THIS IMPLIES EFFORT AND DETERMINATION.

IT INVOLVES LETTING GO OF THE PAST AND FOCUSING ON THE FUTURE. IT INVOLVES SETTING GOALS AND WORKING TOWARDS THEM.

IT INVOLVES GROWING IN OUR FAITH AND BECOMING MORE LIKE CHRIST. WE CANNOT MOVE FORWARD IF WE ARE CONSTANTLY LOOKING BACK. WE NEED TO RELEASE OUR REGRETS AND PRESS ON.

RELEASING REGRETS IS NOT ABOUT FORGETTING OUR PAST OR DENYING OUR MISTAKES.

IT'S ABOUT UNDERSTANDING OUR IDENTITY IN CHRIST, ACCEPTING GOD'S FORGIVENESS, LEARNING FROM OUR MISTAKES, AND MOVING FORWARD. IT'S ABOUT LIVING IN THE FREEDOM THAT CHRIST HAS WON FOR US AND STRIVING FOR THE PRIZE THAT AWAITS US IN HEAVEN.

REMEMBERING PAST SUCCESSES

AS WE CONTINUE TO REFLECT ON THE WORDS OF THE APOSTLE PAUL, WE FIND OURSELVES DRAWN TO THE IDEA OF REMEMBERING PAST SUCCESSES.

THE PAST CAN SERVE AS A POWERFUL REMINDER OF GOD'S FAITHFULNESS AND PROVISION IN OUR LIVES. IT IS A TESTAMENT TO HIS UNCHANGING CHARACTER, HIS STEADFAST LOVE, AND HIS UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO HIS CHILDREN.

IN THE MIDST OF OUR DAILY STRUGGLES, IT'S EASY TO LOSE SIGHT OF THE VICTORIES WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST. WE GET SO CAUGHT UP IN THE PRESENT, IN THE IMMEDIATE CHALLENGES AND DIFFICULTIES, THAT WE FORGET ABOUT THE MOUNTAINS WE'VE CLIMBED AND THE BATTLES WE'VE WON.

BUT PAUL URGES US TO REMEMBER. HE URGES US TO RECALL THE TIMES WHEN WE'VE SEEN GOD'S HAND AT WORK IN OUR LIVES, WHEN WE'VE WITNESSED HIS POWER AND HIS GRACE IN ACTION.

THINK BACK TO A TIME WHEN YOU WERE FACED WITH AN OBSTACLE.

MAYBE IT WAS A HEALTH CRISIS, A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP, A BROKEN RELATIONSHIP, OR A PERSONAL FAILURE. IN THE MIDST OF THAT STRUGGLE, IT MIGHT HAVE FELT LIKE THERE WAS NO WAY OUT, NO HOPE FOR A BETTER FUTURE. BUT HERE YOU ARE TODAY, STANDING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT OBSTACLE, A TESTAMENT TO GOD'S FAITHFULNESS AND PROVISION.

REMEMBERING THESE PAST SUCCESSES CAN SERVE AS A POWERFUL MOTIVATOR FOR OUR PRESENT AND FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

IT CAN BOOST OUR CONFIDENCE, STRENGTHEN OUR RESOLVE, AND REAFFIRM OUR FAITH IN GOD'S ABILITY TO SEE US THROUGH ANY CHALLENGE WE MAY FACE.

IT CAN REMIND US THAT WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS THROUGH HIM WHO LOVED US, AND THAT NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US FROM HIS LOVE.

NOW, LET'S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE OF THE PASSAGE. THE WORD "PRESS ON" IN VERSE 14 IS TRANSLATED FROM THE GREEK WORD "DIOKO."

THIS WORD CARRIES THE CONNOTATION OF PURSUING OR CHASING AFTER SOMETHING WITH INTENSITY AND DETERMINATION. IT'S THE SAME WORD USED IN 1 CORINTHIANS 14:1 WHERE PAUL INSTRUCTS THE CORINTHIANS TO "PURSUE LOVE." IT'S ALSO USED IN 1 TIMOTHY 6:11 WHERE PAUL TELLS TIMOTHY TO "PURSUE RIGHTEOUSNESS, GODLINESS, FAITH, LOVE, ENDURANCE, AND GENTLENESS."

AS WE APPLY THIS UNDERSTANDING TO OUR MAIN SCRIPTURE, WE SEE THAT PAUL IS NOT MERELY SUGGESTING A CASUAL STROLL TOWARDS OUR SPIRITUAL GOALS. HE IS ADVOCATING FOR A RELENTLESS, DETERMINED PURSUIT, MUCH LIKE A RUNNER STRAINING TOWARDS THE FINISH LINE. THIS PAINTS A VIVID PICTURE OF THE KIND OF COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION WE SHOULD HAVE IN OUR SPIRITUAL JOURNEY.

IN ADDITION TO REMEMBERING OUR PERSONAL VICTORIES, WE SHOULD ALSO REMEMBER THE VICTORIES OF OTHERS. THE BIBLE IS FILLED WITH STORIES OF MEN AND WOMEN WHO FACED INCREDIBLE ODDS, YET EMERGED VICTORIOUS THROUGH THEIR FAITH IN GOD. THESE STORIES SERVE AS A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION AND ENCOURAGEMENT, REMINDING US THAT WE ARE PART OF A LARGER NARRATIVE OF FAITH AND PERSEVERANCE.

FINALLY, WE SHOULD REMEMBER THE ULTIMATE VICTORY THAT WE HAVE IN CHRIST. THROUGH HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION, JESUS HAS CONQUERED SIN AND DEATH, SECURING OUR ETERNAL SALVATION. THIS IS THE GREATEST VICTORY OF ALL, AND ONE THAT WE SHOULD CONSTANTLY REMEMBER AND CELEBRATE.

SO, AS WE CONTINUE TO PRESS ON TOWARDS THE GOAL, LET US REMEMBER OUR PAST SUCCESSES. LET US REMEMBER THE TIMES WHEN WE'VE SEEN GOD'S HAND AT WORK IN OUR LIVES. LET US REMEMBER THE VICTORIES OF OTHERS, AND THE ULTIMATE VICTORY WE HAVE IN CHRIST. AND LET THESE MEMORIES FUEL OUR DETERMINATION AND RESOLVE AS WE CONTINUE TO PURSUE OUR SPIRITUAL GOALS.

RESOLUTE STEPS TOWARDS THE FUTURE

AS WE STAND ON THE PRECIPICE OF TOMORROW, THE FUTURE MAY SEEM DAUNTING, FILLED WITH UNCERTAINTY AND UNKNOWNS. YET, WE ARE CALLED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A RESOLUTE SPIRIT, STEPPING INTO THE FUTURE WITH PURPOSE. THIS IS NOT A CALL TO RECKLESS ABANDON, BUT RATHER A CALL TO INTENTIONAL ACTION, GUIDED BY THE WISDOM AND STRENGTH OF OUR LORD.

THE FIRST ASPECT OF STEPPING FORWARD WITH PURPOSE IS TO UNDERSTAND THAT OUR STEPS ARE NOT AIMLESS WANDERINGS, BUT PURPOSEFUL STRIDES GUIDED BY GOD'S DIVINE PLAN. JEREMIAH 29:11 REMINDS US, "FOR I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU,” DECLARES THE LORD, “PLANS TO PROSPER YOU AND NOT TO HARM YOU, PLANS TO GIVE YOU HOPE AND A FUTURE." THIS SCRIPTURE ASSURES US THAT OUR STEPS ARE NOT IN VAIN, BUT ARE PART OF A GRAND DESIGN, INTRICATELY WOVEN BY THE MASTER PLANNER HIMSELF.

IN A STUDY PUBLISHED IN THE JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY AND THEOLOGY, RESEARCHERS FOUND THAT INDIVIDUALS WHO PERCEIVED THEIR LIVES AS HAVING DIVINE PURPOSE EXHIBITED GREATER RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY. THIS RESILIENCE IS NOT A RESULT OF MERE HUMAN STRENGTH, BUT RATHER IT IS THE MANIFESTATION OF DIVINE POWER WORKING IN AND THROUGH US. WHEN WE STEP FORWARD WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT OUR STEPS ARE DIVINELY GUIDED, WE ARE ABLE TO FACE THE FUTURE WITH CONFIDENCE, KNOWING THAT WE ARE WALKING IN GOD'S WILL.

THE SECOND ASPECT OF STEPPING FORWARD WITH PURPOSE IS TO EMBRACE THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT COME OUR WAY. IN HIS BOOK, "THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE," RICK WARREN WRITES, "GOD NEVER WASTES ANYTHING. HE WOULD NOT GIVE US ABILITIES, INTERESTS, TALENTS, GIFTS, PERSONALITIES, AND LIFE EXPERIENCES UNLESS HE INTENDED TO USE THEM FOR HIS GLORY." THIS QUOTE REMINDS US THAT EVERY OPPORTUNITY, EVERY SITUATION, EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE IS A CHANCE FOR US TO GROW, TO LEARN, AND TO SERVE.

WHEN WE EMBRACE OPPORTUNITIES, WE ARE NOT MERELY REACTING TO LIFE'S CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT WE ARE PROACTIVELY ENGAGING WITH THEM. THIS PROACTIVE ENGAGEMENT IS NOT ABOUT TRYING TO CONTROL OR MANIPULATE SITUATIONS, BUT IT IS ABOUT BEING OPEN TO THE LESSONS AND GROWTH THAT THEY BRING. IN A STUDY PUBLISHED IN THE JOURNAL OF POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY, RESEARCHERS FOUND THAT INDIVIDUALS WHO EMBRACED OPPORTUNITIES EXHIBITED GREATER LIFE SATISFACTION AND OVERALL WELL-BEING. EMBRACING OPPORTUNITIES IS NOT ABOUT SEEKING OUR OWN HAPPINESS, BUT IT IS ABOUT FINDING JOY AND FULFILLMENT IN SERVING GOD AND OTHERS.

THE THIRD ASPECT OF STEPPING FORWARD WITH PURPOSE IS TO PERSEVERE IN THE FACE OF CHALLENGES. LIFE IS NOT ALWAYS EASY. THERE WILL BE TIMES WHEN WE FACE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS. YET, WE ARE CALLED TO PERSEVERE, TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD, EVEN WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH.

IN HIS LETTER TO THE ROMANS, PAUL WRITES, "WE ALSO GLORY IN OUR SUFFERINGS, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT SUFFERING PRODUCES PERSEVERANCE; PERSEVERANCE, CHARACTER; AND CHARACTER, HOPE" (ROMANS 5:3-4). THIS SCRIPTURE REMINDS US THAT CHALLENGES ARE NOT MEANT TO BREAK US, BUT TO BUILD US. THEY ARE NOT MEANT TO DISCOURAGE US, BUT TO DEVELOP US.

IN A STUDY PUBLISHED IN THE JOURNAL OF PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, RESEARCHERS FOUND THAT INDIVIDUALS WHO PERSEVERED IN THE FACE OF CHALLENGES EXHIBITED GREATER PSYCHOLOGICAL RESILIENCE AND OVERALL WELL-BEING. PERSEVERANCE IS NOT ABOUT STUBBORNLY CLINGING TO OUR OWN PLANS, BUT IT IS ABOUT FAITHFULLY FOLLOWING GOD'S PLAN, EVEN WHEN IT LEADS US THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH.

THE FOURTH AND FINAL ASPECT OF STEPPING FORWARD WITH PURPOSE IS TO TRUST IN GOD'S TIMING. ECCLESIASTES 3:1 TELLS US, "THERE IS A TIME FOR EVERYTHING, AND A SEASON FOR EVERY ACTIVITY UNDER THE HEAVENS." THIS SCRIPTURE REMINDS US THAT GOD'S TIMING IS PERFECT. HE IS NEVER EARLY, NEVER LATE, BUT ALWAYS RIGHT ON TIME.

IN A STUDY PUBLISHED IN THE JOURNAL OF BEHAVIORAL DECISION MAKING, RESEARCHERS FOUND THAT INDIVIDUALS WHO TRUSTED IN DIVINE TIMING EXHIBITED GREATER PATIENCE AND OVERALL LIFE SATISFACTION. TRUSTING IN GOD'S TIMING IS NOT ABOUT PASSIVELY WAITING FOR THINGS TO HAPPEN, BUT IT IS ABOUT ACTIVELY TRUSTING IN GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY, EVEN WHEN THINGS DON'T HAPPEN ACCORDING TO OUR TIMELINE.

AS WE STEP FORWARD WITH PURPOSE, LET US REMEMBER THAT OUR STEPS ARE DIVINELY GUIDED, THAT EVERY OPPORTUNITY IS A CHANCE FOR GROWTH AND SERVICE, THAT CHALLENGES ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND THAT GOD'S TIMING IS PERFECT. LET US STEP FORWARD WITH PURPOSE, NOT IN OUR OWN STRENGTH, BUT IN THE STRENGTH OF THE LORD. LET US STEP FORWARD WITH PURPOSE, NOT FOR OUR OWN GLORY, BUT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD. LET US STEP FORWARD WITH PURPOSE, FOR SUCH IS THE CALL OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.

CONCLUSION

AS WE CLOSE OUR TIME TOGETHER TODAY, LET'S TAKE A MOMENT TO REFLECT ON THE TRUTH WE'VE UNPACKED FROM THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS. REMEMBER, FRIENDS, WE'RE NOT PERFECT, AND WE'RE NOT EXPECTED TO BE. WE'RE ALL WORKS IN PROGRESS, PRESSING ON TOWARDS THE GOAL, THE HEAVENLY PRIZE THAT GOD HAS CALLED US TO. WE'VE ALL GOT OUR REGRETS, OUR "SHOULD HAVES" AND "COULD HAVES", BUT LET'S NOT ALLOW THEM TO HOLD US HOSTAGE. INSTEAD, LET'S RELEASE THEM INTO THE HANDS OF OUR GRACIOUS GOD, WHO IS MORE THAN WILLING TO FORGIVE AND FORGET.

AND LET'S NOT FORGET TO CELEBRATE OUR PAST SUCCESSES, THOSE MOMENTS WHEN WE'VE SEEN GOD'S HAND AT WORK IN OUR LIVES. THESE ARE NOT JUST MEMORIES, BUT MILESTONES OF OUR FAITH JOURNEY, REMINDING US OF GOD'S FAITHFULNESS AND HIS POWER AT WORK IN US.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, LET'S KEEP MOVING FORWARD, LET'S KEEP PRESSING ON. OUR JOURNEY MAY BE SLOW, FILLED WITH OBSTACLES AND CHALLENGES, BUT LET'S NOT LOSE HEART. LET'S KEEP OUR EYES FIXED ON JESUS, THE AUTHOR AND PERFECTER OF OUR FAITH, WHO FOR THE JOY SET BEFORE HIM, ENDURED THE CROSS, SCORNING ITS SHAME, AND SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE THRONE OF GOD.

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NOW, LET'S BOW OUR HEADS FOR A CLOSING PRAYER.

DEAR LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORD WHICH IS A LAMP UNTO OUR FEET AND A LIGHT UNTO OUR PATH. AS WE REFLECT ON THE VERSES FROM PHILIPPIANS, WE ASK THAT YOU OPEN OUR HEARTS AND MINDS TO UNDERSTAND YOUR TRUTHS. HELP US TO RELEASE OUR REGRETS, REMEMBER OUR PAST SUCCESSES, AND RESOLUTELY STEP INTO THE FUTURE YOU HAVE PLANNED FOR US. IN JESUS' NAME, WE PRAY. AMEN.

WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORD THAT HAS SPOKEN TO US TODAY. WE THANK YOU FOR REMINDING US THAT WE'RE NOT DEFINED BY OUR PAST, BUT BY YOUR LOVE AND GRACE. HELP US, LORD, TO RELEASE OUR REGRETS, TO REMEMBER OUR PAST SUCCESSES, AND TO RESOLUTELY STEP INTO THE FUTURE YOU HAVE PLANNED FOR US. GIVE US THE STRENGTH TO PRESS ON, TO KEEP OUR EYES FIXED ON THE PRIZE, AND TO RUN THE RACE WITH ENDURANCE. WE ASK ALL THIS IN THE PRECIOUS NAME OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST. AMEN.

AND NOW, MAY THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE LOVE OF GOD, AND THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BE WITH YOU ALL, NOW AND FOREVERMORE. AMEN. GO IN PEACE, DEAR FRIENDS, AND LET THE LOVE OF GOD SHINE THROUGH YOU IN ALL THAT YOU DO. GOD BLESS YOU ALL.