Hard To Go Forward If You Keep Looking Back

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. Philippians 3:13

How many people do you ever hear of yearning for the good old days? I, for one, am happy just where I am. There is no time machine to transport me back to fix things I messed up at. Our enemy Satan likes to drag up the past. The past is gone and we can learn from it good or bad, and move forward to new experiences. The natural progression is to keep looking ahead and know you might have done things you regret but God is full of mercy, it is Satan who is not. 

I serve a big God and He is able to forgive, restore, redeem, and set free. He is your friend when humans friends or family want nothing to do with you. His love endures forever. He is not limited by our human rules. 

Today why not get going making up your mind you will not allow Satan to torture you with things from the past you can do nothing about. Move ahead with peace and joy. 

PRAYER: Lord you are good and forgiving. Your love knows no bounds. You love me when the world runs out and for that I am thankful. In Jesus' name. Amen, 

No Looking Back

Do not say, "Why were the old days better than these?" For it is not wise to ask such questions. Ecclesiastes 7:10

Many times in the Bible it refers to not looking back and looking ahead. The past is over and nothing can be done to bring it back. No time machine has been invented to do that. I love thinking about the future because it indicates a chance to start over and do things differently. Remember what happened to Lots' wife in Genesis 19:26 when she turned around to look at the place she was leaving? She became a pillar of salt. Pretty bizarre but true.

I love to run and do not enter races like I used to, but when I did, I would not turn around and look at who was behind me but instead focused on the finish line ahead. I had to focus on doing my best and not being concerned about those behind me.

If there is something in life you can not stop thinking about and are harboring regret and remorse the best thing you can do is to charge forward asking God to help you focus on the future and learn from the past.

PRAYER: Today I want to start fresh not looking back and continually wishing I could do something different. I need your help Lord to focus on the here and now and grow from any past failures. In Jesus' name. Amen.

FORGET ABOUT IT

Are you guilty of not being able to let things go? Say someone has hurt or offended you and you just can not seem to let it go and keep thinking about it constantly. God wants you to forgive you know? He would say "forget about it" as harboring hurt only causes bitterness and does not really help you "walk with the Lord" when you can not forget about an offense. Offense is like poison to our souls.

Not only should we forget but also forgive. Ouch! Yes you read right, totally let it go by forgiving even when the person may not have asked for forgiveness. "Hey Becky I may be able to forget but no way am I going to forgive." If you don't you will never be whole spiritually if you harbor things in your heart. Your heart needs to be clean before God.

Let's see what the Bible has to say. Hebrews 12:15 says 'Looking diligently less any man fail of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.' Think of a root and how sometimes they are hard to yank out of the ground. Some weeds root systems are quite intricate and take much effort to get out of the ground. If you do not remove them though they can choke the good things growing around them. Same with bitterness. It is a "choker". In Isaiah 43:18-19 it says 'Forget the former things. Do not dwell on the past.See I am doing a new thing. Now it springs up, do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."

So there is a verse on being bitter and another on letting the past go. Often times that is what it takes. Get your mind on something else. Think on good things. Matthew 6:14-15 says 'For if you forgive men when thy sin against you then your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins your heavenly Father will not forgive you.'

Even the experts at the world renowned Mayo Clinic say it is good for your health overall to let go of grudges. Doctors know and so does God's word.

What is your choice? Pray and ask God to help you be a forgetter and forgiver and be at peace, or dwell on things and let roots of offense and bitterness grow?

PRAYER: Today Lord I choose to let go of any offenses that I have harbored. I ask Lord you help bring to mind anything I need to let go that I may have harbored. Help me forgive when necessary. In Jesus' name. Amen.

LOVE MEANS NEVER HAVING TO SAY YOUR SORRY....HUH!!

 

This may make a great movie line from the seventies but is has no bearing in real life relationships. If you have hurt somone you love, be it a spouse, girlfriend or boyfriend, or friend you need to admit it and go to the person and restore this relationship. Sometimes people mess up and some people have trouble asking forgiveness and saying they are sorry. If you are the one who has been hurt by someone you are close to, you can choose to dwell on it or you can move on. True, it is not right when someone has done something and will not admit they have hurt you, but to dwell on it only causes a huge divide. Eventually if it happens to be in a marriage relationship you may need counseling for this issue as it can not continue to be buried if there is an underlying cause.

If you know you have hurt someone and you claim to be a Christian ask yourself what would Jesus do? We all know the answer to that. He would admit his mistake and seek to heal the relatioship before it was wounded any more. Many fights in marriages could be avoided if the couples truly prayed together and read their Bibles together and would admit it when they were wrong. The real culprit in all arguments and misunderstandings is the enemy Satan trying to divide and destroy because that is his specialty.

Sometimes you may have hurt a friend and they refuse to want to be your friend anymore. You have to move on. Pray for the person. Try to love them regardless of how they feel about you.

Most all types of relationships could be wonderful and happy and strong if people did not always try to get their own way. If all of us who claim to love Jesus and follow Him would stop each day and pick up that instruction manual, otherwise known as the Bible, there would be much less conflict. If husbands would treat their wives like Christ treated the church, there would be a much lower divorce rate. If people would put the other person first all the time and think of nice things to do, that would help as well. If you are just starting out a new marriage, begin the right way and make it a point to not take each other for granted, ever! Read the instruction manual and read it together. Take time and read Ephesians Chapter 6 and 1 Corinthians 13. Choose to love and choose to forgive.

If you are reading this and some type relationship you are in seems to be a one way battle all you can really do is pray. Keep seeking Christ. Keep reading your Bible. Try to control the urge to fight or yell as then Satan has you right where he wants you . Overcome evil with good it says in Romans 12:21. As hard as it is sometimes when you are hurt you have to throw off anger. Just think of this as spiritual warfare. Satan is the author of lies, deception, hate, confusion and every evil work. God is all about love, peace, forgiveness, kindness, gentleness, mercy, self control and grace. Satan is out to kill, steal, and destroy. We have a choice. We can choose to love and forgive or we can choose to be angry, hateful, vindictive and give Satan more power in our lives.

What is your choice today? Joy, love. peace, forgiveness and moving on or hatred, anger and bitterness? Matthew 5:44(NIV) simply says 'But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.' Now just go and do it with God's strength!

PRAYER:Lord Jesus I know you made me to love and show mercy to others. I know in life people may hurt me but I can choose to fight and be angry or I can choose to let it go and move on. I can choose to harbor hate and anger or choose to be kind to those who may want to mistreat me. It is hard, so I need your strength Lord. I know Lord we are in a battle between God and the devil. Fighting is not a fruit of the holy spirit but love is. I choose to love, regardless. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click on link below for a powerful song to get your weekend started off right.

http://youtu.be/GsjJmk7tdk4

CARELESS WORDS....OR WHOOPS DID I SAY THAT?

How many of you have never made a mistake with your mouth? More
specifically, the words that just seem to come out sometimes. Today in
this instant high tech society sometimes those "words" come in the
form of either an email or a text message. Once you hit the send
button, whoops, there it goes. Sometimes messages are not received
the same way through this method. But still sometimes words can come
out even face to face that are misunderstood and cause lots of pain.
If only we could tame this area, especially here during the "month of
love".

James 3:1-12(NIV) is worth putting down here in it's entirety. 'Not
many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you
know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in
many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect,
able to keep their whole body in check.When we put bits into the
mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.
Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven
by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the
pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body,
but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire
by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the
parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course
of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of
animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have
been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a
restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our
Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made
in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My
brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and
salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a
fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt
spring produce fresh water.' You can see where this is going right?
That little tongue is sure one hard thing to control if we do not
engage our brain first and not act on impulse or out of raw emotion.

If you have been on the receiving end of misspoken or hurtful words
try to do what Jesus would want you to and extend forgiveness. James
1:19-20(NIV)says 'My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this:
Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become
angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God
desires.' Why is it some people just do not feel like forgiving and
trying to understand?

If you are married, it is vital you try to be careful with that mouth.
Wives don't nag, husbands don't be harsh. There you have it. Words
can make us or break us. Try to memorize this verse in Ephesians
4:29(ESV) which says 'Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouth
but only that which is good for building up, as it fits the occasion,
that it may give grace to those that hear.' If you have messed up and
hurt someone be big enough to ask for forgiveness then ask for God's
help to fix that area of your life.

Psalm 19:14(KIV) says 'Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of
my heart be acceptable in your sight oh Lord my strength and my
redeemer.'

PRAYER: Lord Jesus I need your help to control what I say. I ask you
Lord to help me forgive this who have hurt me with their words and
help me ask forgiveness if I have been the one doing the hurting. In
Jesus' name. Amen.

NOTE: Today we celebrate Presidents' Day and let me leave you with a
quote from the 16th President of the United States Abraham Lincoln "We
the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts,
not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert
the Constitution." Now those are some REAL WORDS we can take to heart
on this special day for those of us who value freedom.

GET THEM BACK!! NOT!!

Has anyone ever hurt you so bad that it is all you can do humanly to
not keep the battle going? First of all we have to realize we can not
control people or their emotions or reactions. It hurts to be rejected
or made fun of by someone especially if we are close to them. Human
nature says 'Get them back' but God's nature says 'Not'.

This is a battle of the mind and it involves unconditional love to the
utmost. Since this is the month of love why not bring up letting hurts
go, not harboring resentment, and just moving on? It is very hard to
be betrayed by a friend for instance or to have co workers talk behind
your back. Maybe someone shared something personal you asked to be
held in confidence. Whatever the scenarios, you only give Satan more
ground and keep him happy when you choose to keep resentment over
something in your heart. Ponder that for a while.

Romans 12:17 (NIV) says 'to not repay evil for evil' so why do we
think we should? Some may say, 'I will never forgive them' but what
happened to kindness, grace, love, mercy, and being like Jesus? Jesus
of all people was scorned by many. He never uttered a harsh word and
wants us to pray. In Matthew 5:44(NIV) it says 'But I tell you, love
your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.' Proverbs
19:11(NIV) says ' A man's wisdom gives him patience. It is to a man's
glory to overlook an offense.' Get your mind on something else. Make

yourself pray for whoever it is that hurt you. Do not try to keep

reasoning things out and figuring them out, just move on and give it
to God.

PRAYER: Lord it hurts to be rejected. You know that feeling more than
anyone. Father give me your ability to focus on you and not past
hurts. In Jesus' name. Amem.

A CLEAN SLATE IN 2013

Here we are eleven days into the New Year. Resolutions have been made
and broken. Decorations are down or coming down soon. Thank you notes
are being written. Bills are being paid. Diets have been started. Life
is getting back to the normal mode in most cases.

A new year is a good time to start things over and make things right.
A "clean slate" so to speak. For those too young to know what a
"slate" is basically it is a chalkboard or today would be a dry erase
board. You wipe it clean and start all over. Nothing is on the slate
or board and off you go to a new year and new adventures. Pretty
exciting and encouraging to get to begin again. Take stock of your
life and what has to be done and purpose in your heart, with God's

help, that you can do whatever it is you set your mind to.

Forget the errors of the past and charge on into the future with new
hopes and new dreams. If you have messed up it is time to make things
right. A new year can be wonderful, a turning point of sorts.

So what do you need to "wipe clean" in 2013? Pray and seek God and ask
Him for direction for what He would have you to do. Perhaps it is time
to right a wrong that has occurred. Maybe you really need to spend
more time in the word of God to get to know Him better. Maybe you need

to learn to love more. Perhaps it is not talking so much. Don't dwell
on past failures. Whatever it is, spend some time in prayer and ask

God to show you what He has for you in 2013.

Isaiah 40:31(NKJV) says 'But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew
their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall
run and not be weary and they shall walk and not faint.'

PRAYER: I am excited to get a chance to start over in 2013 or build on
things I had not finished in 2012. With your help Lord I can reach my
goals. Help me Lord to relax and trust in you. In Jesus' name.Amen

BURY THE PAST

Do you have a habit of thinking or worrying about the past? The past can not nor should not be resurrected. It is gone. We move on in life and learn from mistakes. If you confessed your sin then why not let it go and keep it buried? God forgets and forgives mess ups and sins so why can't we? It is because Satan is the "accuser of the brethren" ( see Revelation12:10) and tries to put guilt on you. Guilt is not from God. If you confessed it then as The Bible says 'go and sin no more.' ( see John 8:11).

Isaiah 43:18(NIV) tells us 'remember not the former things', so are you able to let the past with all of its' mistakes go and look ahead and know God has redeemed you and set you free? You can learn from your past but you need not dwell on it. Just like in the "love chapter" 1 Corinthians 13 in verse 5 it says 'love does not keep a record of wrongs'. That is great news! Remember it is only Satan who condemns you. If you have those feelings tell Satan to get behind you in Jesus' name.

Psalm 103:12(NIV) says 'As far as the East is from the West so far has He removed our transgressions from us'.

PRAYER: Thank you for forgiving my sins. My desire is to focus on day to day things and let things in the past be "lessons learned". I know I do not need to keep asking you to forgive me because you have. Thank you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

LOOK AHEAD, NOT BACK

 The idea for this title came to me while driving about 5 p.m. one weekday. I realized just how important it was to not look behind me but to keep my eyes focused on the traffic particularly in the high traffic times of the start and end of the work day. If you live in a major city you have true rush hour but here where I am we have lots of cars on the road but nothing like a huge city rush hour. It is important when you drive in lots of heavy traffic that you keep plenty of distance between you and the vehicle in front of you and pay attention always looking ahead down the road for hazards. If you start being distracted by your rear view mirror the traffic could, in fact, suddenly stop and you will more than likely crash into the vehicle ahead of you.

In life too, we need to look ahead and not behind. The past is gone and can not be resurrected. You can learn from the mistakes you have made and confess sins you may have committed, but after that you are to move on and let it go and focus on the here and now and the future. Constantly clinging to the past is not going to bring it back. It is gone, period!

Let's say you can not forget some sin you committed in your life even though you confessed it and God forgave you but Satan keeps trying to torment you with it. Talk out loud to Satan and say 'Satan I will not believe your lies. God has redeemed me and set me free to lead a life pleasing to Him so in the name of Jesus be gone' then move on. After all there is a verse in Psalm 103:12(NIV) that reminds me 'as far as the East is from the West so far has He removed our transgressions from us.'
You might recall the story about Lot's wife in Genesis 19:18-26 where the family was fleeing the evils of the city of Sodom before God destroyed it. God had commanded them to not look back. Lot's wife looked back and turned into a pillar of salt. Not listening to and obeying God then sure had dire consequences. It is tempting to maybe turn around but forget it and keep looking ahead. Charge on!

The Army used to sing a Jody call for marching in formation and maybe it is still used and it went something like this: 'Ain't no use in looking down, there's no discharge on the ground. One two three four, one two give me some more.' Looking down and looking back indicate perhaps a lack of peace about the future or wanting to stay way you are.

Can you look straight ahead and keep your eye on the prize, that being living a life pleasing to the Lord Jesus Christ and throwing off the weights of sin along the way that cling to you and try to drag you down? Keep your eyes on the future. God has good things in store!

Philippians 3:14(NIV) says 'I press on toward the goal, to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Jesus Christ.'

PRAYER: I thank you so much that in Christ I have a future and a hope. I need not cling to the past and worry over things that can not be changed. Help me Lord as I press on for the prize of eternal life. In Jesus' name. Amen.

NO MORE

There is good news for the sinner. We first of all are all sinners. It says in 1 John 1:9 (NIV) ' if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.' Isn't that nice to know? No more record. No more list. He has wiped our slate clean so to speak. It is only the enemy, Satan, who brings condemnation on us. Once you asked God for forgiveness then let it go. If constant thoughts come in your head then your mind needs to be renewed with a good dose of the word of God. Reading the word keeps the lies of Satan out. He said He remembers them NO MORE and He means NO MORE.

When you take a bath to wash dirt off your body the dirt is gone. You can take a spiritual "mind" bath as well and cleanse yourself from the filth of the world. Confessing sin is that "bath." When Jesus caught the woman in the act of adultery in John 8:11(KJV) he said 'Go and sin NO MORE.'

There you have it. Once you are forgiven you are to try to not fall back into sin but it says in Psalm 103:12 'As far as the East is from the West that is how far He has removed our sins from us!' Believe it my friend and go and 'Sin No More!'

PRAYER: Father sometimes it is easy to have things I did wrong to come back to my memory. I know you have forgiven me so I need to forgive myself. Help me Lord to do that and not dwell on faults and failures. I know Lord you are a righteous and forgiving God and full of compassion. Thank you for forgiving my sins. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click on link below and worship the Lord in song.

http://youtu.be/xPonvq5SbrA

IT'S 2012. TIME TO PUT THE PAST BEHIND YOU.

Time to move on and move forward. The 2nd day of 2012 is here. Has your list of resolutions been firmed up yet? Time to stop rehashing old problems and make up your mind to look forward and not backward. Looking back does not benefit anyone.This is a great opportunity to start fresh and new and get rid of 'weights' that were pressing down on you and keeping you from being all God wants you to be. You can not cling to the past and try to mull things over and over. You just have to let go and let God and what better time than a brand new year to get a brand new start! So as Nike says "Just Do It! "  What is in your way? Start now thinking on good things and positive things and allowing God to have control of your thoughts.

Philippians 4:8 is one of my favorite verses and it is good to commit to memory. It says " Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

If things did not go so well in 2012 in whatever area of your life give that over to God right now and commit yourself to daily getting up and praying and to keep praying. When you feel yourself going into a slump or pit cry out to God, "I need you Lord!" God is only a shout out away. Jeremiah 33:3 often called God's phone number says "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." God is there waiting for you to cry out to Him.

Look forward to 2012 with great anticipation for the new things God will do in your life. Give him your heart today if you have not already. Start looking forward and not dreading things in your life. God can restore the years to you the enemy has taken away.

PRAYER:Thank you Lord for a brand new year with new hopes and new dreams. Thank  you for what you will do in my life this year. Thank you for loving me even when I have acted not so kind and loving. I purpose in my heart in 2012 to let you be Lord of my life and keep my focus ahead and not behind. In Jesus Name. Amen.

OUT WITH THE OLD. LET GO OF THE PAST!

The final day of 2011 is finally here. It is time to think about what things you want to do differently or set new goals for yourself. It is always a time to do things differently if you have messed up or just want to set a new goal in life. Perhaps it is a time of new exciting beginnings if you are getting married or have a newborn baby. Maybe a new job is on the horizon. Whatever the reason, it is nice that God allows us to have this fresh start once every 365 days. God does give us new beginnings, which is nice. He does not hold mistakes over our heads. He is a loving and forgiving God and a God of second chances.

What does the Bible have to say about looking back and forgetting the past? Philippians 3:13 says "Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead." Luke 9:62 says "Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." Deuteronomy 4:29 says "But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul." Run your race to win and keep your eyes on Jesus. Do not look back. It is over and can not be changed. Think on new happy things ahead on the horizon.

We can look forward to new things in 2012 with great anticipation. For our family, it is a upcoming wedding date. For all of us I am sure there are milestones and things on the horizon for you that are exciting. What do you plan to do with the days ahead?  Live one day at a time, of course, as we are never promised tomorrow. But look forward to each day as a gift from God.

PRAYER: Lord I thank you for another day of life. I thank you for new starts in life. I thank you for a brand new year. I thank you for friends and family and the gift of Love. I ask you to make me a light in someones life who could use a little cheer in 2012. In Jesus Name. Amen.