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Back in the good old days, we used to have these things called VCRs. I can remember when we got our very first tape. We popped it into the machine and hit play. The movie, almost by magic, started to play on the TV. We could hit the pause button and take a restroom break. This was a miracle because we used to have to time our lives around commercial breaks! Then we found out that we could rewind the tape and watch the movie all over again. It was so cool! 

The other feature was the fast-forward button; this was game-changing because we could skip all the boring stuff and get to the part of the show we liked most. 

You see, we watched certain movies so many times that we could recite them word for word. We knew everything that was going to happen. Sometimes, we just wanted to fast-forward to our favorite parts! 

As Christians, it's time to hit the fast-forward button in our faith. We've been walking with the Lord for so long that we know the Bible. We understand the truths in the Word so well that we can recite them word for word. 2024 is coming quickly, and it's time to think about our goals for the coming year. Could the Lord want to use our lives for something greater? 

Consider this scripture:

Hebrews 6:1–3 NLT

So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. 2 You don’t need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding. 

The writer of Hebrews wrote this letter to people of his day, but it still applies to us today. In fact, it feels as though he wrote it just for us! 

We know the truth. We understand what it means to be a Christian. We don't need to hear another sermon. What we need is to MOVE FORWARD. 

In the book of Acts, we can find inspiration to move forward in our faith. In chapter 12, we find that King Herod was causing terrible suffering in the church. He cut off the heads of James and John, and he ordered Peter to be arrested. Things weren't going well in the church. It seemed as though the enemy was gaining ground. 

But this was not actually the case. The Lord was moving even though the faithful were experiencing hardships. Even in the difficult times, God was working. Looking back, we can see His hand moving things into place; even the bad stuff turned out to advance His purposes. 

At the end of Acts 12 we find a very important verse:

Acts 12:24 NLT

24 God’s message kept spreading.

Wow! Even though there were hard times, the Lord was working. His word was advancing. The enemy could not stop it from spreading. 

In 2024, it's time to take hold of our faith and trust in the Lord to advance His word. It's the truth that this world needs to hear. The difficulties of life must not stop us. We must determine to hit the fast-forward button in our faith. 

Let's determine to focus on what He can do through us if we are willing to move forward in our faith! 

You can do something great for the Lord. He's ready, willing, and able to use your life!