LOOKING BACK TO FORGE AHEAD

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I have difficulty in letting go of the past.

I guess it's for that reason alone that Paul admonishes us in Philippians 3 to forget what lies in the past and to strain forward to what lies ahead in order that we might press on toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus……


And believe me, I’m all for that; but sometimes my lack of faith keeps me frozen in the position I’m in…. neither moving forward nor sliding back. It is in times like these that I must look back in order to forge ahead.

Let me explain….God has been so very, very, VERY GOOD TO ME. It is when I look back that I can see the providential hand of God at work in my life and I know that the God of my past is still in control of the present and knows what lies ahead in my future. So, I ask myself,why do I stand there frozen in complacency, when God has called me to serve Him in expediency. The answer, simply put.....I’ve forgotten all that God has done for me, and through me, in my past.

Now,we all travel through the valley of adversity wondering if we will ever come out of the other side; yet, when we place our faith and trust in God, WE ALWAYS DO…often scarred, broken, even bitter that our travel and travail have been so deep; but, our Father who loves us with an unwavering love, ALWAYS, ALWAYS HAS OUR BEST INTEREST AT THE HEART OF HIS HEART.

So, the next time adversity rears its ugly head in your life or things seem to have come to a standstill, I encourage you to do what I do ….look back to the faithfulness of your Heavenly Father and all that He has done for you; the blessings that have been yours; the divine intervention that kept you safe and secure in this evil and despicable world.

You will see as revealed in His Holy Word in Job 12:22, “He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into the light."….and as you stand, firmly grounded on the mountaintop and cast a glance to the valley below, you will see all that God has brought you through. Maybe then, you will understand that in each situation, God has made a spiritual deposit in your life upon which you can draw and that because of this and the tough times that God has seen you through...your faith account in Him can never be overdrawn.

I don’t know about you, but there are too many things in my past that still plague me; however, I am so thankful that I am leaving these in the rear view mirror as I travel life’s highway with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ….and now, I try to only look back when it will help me forge ahead.

I hope you’ll do the same….after all, God’s counting on each of us in the days that lie ahead to be SALT & LIGHT to His world…

Looking forward …straining for the prize,
WPQ