Everyday Step with Jesus

When we think about our past we may think of accomplishments, happiness, and fun memories, but there are also things from our past that may cause us sadness and hurt. This sadness and hurt may be due to a lot of different situations, situations that we can no longer change and that we must leave in the past if we want to continue to move forward. On the other hand, we may also be looking back and wishing that we were living the life that we used to have. Either way, looking at our past and staying focused on our past is dangerous and steers us away from our present and where we are headed. If you have found yourself looking back, keep on reading…

Wanting to go back

Oftentimes we think that our past is better than our current situation. The Israelites are a great example of this…When God freed the Israelites from Egypt, they complained on their journey and thought that Moses (and ultimately God) had led them to a worse situation…they thought they were better off just dying or returning to being slaves because at least there they had food. 

And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness! Why has the Lord brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?” So they said to one another, “Let us select a leader and return to Egypt.”   Numbers 14:2-4 NKJV

This goes to show that the Israelites had conformed to their past situation even though they were slaves. I remember that when I read about the Israelites and their attitude I thought “That’s crazy, how could they have thought they were better off before being slaves.” But then the Lord showed me how we do the same thing today. 

My Testimony

When I first gave my life to Christ, I found it hard to let go of my past, I had other plans for my life. Those plans included going out and partying, traveling, and just having fun. I remember there were times when I thought that my life was better before, that it was more “fun”, and that my youth was cut short because I didn’t get to do the partying that I wanted. Now I realize those are only temporary pleasures that in the end leave you empty and that nothing can compare to the love that I have found in Christ. Christ is not boring, we(religiousness and our own minds) are the ones that make this walk boring by putting restrictions on Him. I understand now that in Christ we are not limited or restricted, we are actually FREE and living our life for Christ is fun too(it us up to us and the perspective we have about life). 

So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law. Galatians 5:1 NLT

Dangers of Looking Back

Wandering

When we keep looking back we lose focus of where we are headed and we begin to wander. We go from place to place not reaching any specific place and we end up tired and discouraged. This is when we begin to think…I was just better off before, why did I even start this walk, I should just give up. All of these thoughts and many more cause our journey to be so much longer than what God intended it to be. The Israelites journey was only supposed to be an 11 day journey and it turned into 40 YEARS.

Staying Stuck

When we are stuck, we are just in the same place…the same memories, the same hurt, the same pain over and over…When we stay in this state we aren’t able to fully receive the blessings that the Lord has in store for us. The Lord always wants to bless us, but oftentimes we stop or prolong that blessing in our own lives because we are not prepared, we are stuck in the past. How are we to receive the new mind, the new vision, anything new that God has in store for us when we are still longing for the past?….He wants to do something new.

Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:18-19 NKJV

The Lord is always at work in our lives, it is up to us to let go of the past and embrace the new thing that the Lord will do in us. When I read this verse and I get to the part that says “Shall you not know it?“…It makes me stop and think and realize that His thoughts are really not our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8 NKJV). He looks ahead at the things that are unseen and we tend to focus on the things that we can see… this is why we tend to look at either our current situation or our past and not our future. Our future is unknown and full of uncertainty when we look at it in our own eyes. On the other hand, our past is something that we know and have seen so we take refuge in those things which are familiar to us. This is what the Israelites did, even though they weren’t happy being slaves they wanted to go back to what they did know instead of going into unfamiliar territory. This is no way of living and it is definitely not the life that the Lord has planned for us. He tells us not to be afraid, that He will be with us wherever we go (Joshua 1:9 NKJV) but we need to be the ones to GO. When He says that He will make a road in the wilderness, believe that He will guide you on the road when you don’t know which way to go…in the middle of the uncertainty He makes a way; in matter of fact, He is the way! 

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6 NKJV

Wandering and staying stuck eventually lead us to disappointment, sometimes with ourselves or even with God. This is why it is so important to stop looking back and to keep our eyes focused on Him. If you have been feeling like you’re not getting anywhere and maybe even losing hope, stop and think where your focus is…in the memories from the past? In the hurt? In the life you think was better? Ask the Lord to help you see what He sees, that He may guide on the steps to take with Him.

The Lord our God spoke to us in Horeb, saying: ‘You have dwelt long enough at this mountain. ‘ Deuteronomy 1:6 NKJV

Leave the past in the past and GO forward…confident that He is with you. 

Stay tuned for some more on this topic and how to keep going forward…