In one of his books, Max Lucado tells a story about the late champion boxer Muhammad Ali taking someone to his barn where he stored his trophies and awards. Standing in the doorway, he pointed to his many trophies and said, “It ain’t nothing.” He had come to the conclusion that when all is said and done, his accomplishments meant very little.

Centuries earlier, the apostle Paul looked back on his life and on all the things he had been proud of, and he said, “Whatever was to my profit I now consider loss. I consider them rubbish.” Paul said this not because he had a debilitating disease like Muhammad Ali but because he had met the Lord Jesus. He was ready to let go of whatever was behind him so that he could serve the Lord and live by the power of the risen Savior.

As we are about to enter into a new year, are we ready to let go of all the things that might keep us from experiencing the power of Christ’s resurrection? Are we ready to let go of all the things that at one time seemed all-important? Ask the Lord today for the grace to toss out everything that stands in the way of serving him.