FACE FRONT!
Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:12-14 New King James Version).
There are many people, believers and non-believers, who cannot let go of yesterday. They are in such a perpetual state of looking backwards they are in danger of tripping and falling on their face. All the opportunities and beauty of today are missed because their heads will not turn from what has already passed. I have yet to meet one person stuck in yesterday who is truly happy today. People so focused on what has already gone behind deal with bitterness, pain, sorrow, guilt, and anger on a daily basis, and often do not recognize the source. They aren’t able to find anything positive today because there is too much comparison to yesterday. For the believer, this is dangerous.
As a Christian, spending too much time looking back and reliving our past can cause us to stumble and fall, missing where God wants to take us right now. It is good to remember from where God has brought us, however, dwelling on it and trying to recapture moments of our past before Christ, creates open doors the enemy will use to sneak in. This is fertile ground for roots of bitterness, anger, jealousy, and strife to grow; and the devil takes any opportunity we give him. It is important to shut those doors with God’s grace, love, and forgiveness. When we shut the door God’s way, we do not give footholds to those things which hinder our growth, and we won’t miss our “todays”.
Let’s pray: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for blessing us with this beautiful day! Thank You for showing us mercy this morning and waking us up, we thank You for our health, our physical abilities, our gifts, our talents. We praise You and offer ourselves to You today! Let Your will be done, not ours. Forgive us, Lord, for we have somehow turned ourselves around and begun to walk backward. We know that this is not what You want for us, and we ask for Your assistance in turning ourselves to face front. Show us those areas that are keeping You from fully using us. Help us to reposition our eyes and shut the doors to the unhealthy aspects of our pasts, and focus on where You are taking us. We love You, Father, and we give You all honor and glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Today’s Attitude of Worship: Do you find yourself looking back and longing for yesterday more than enjoying today? Do you relive long gone moments and give rise to unhealthy emotions? More often than not, do you begin conversations with “remember when?” Spend some time at the feet of your heavenly Father and ask Him to help you evaluate your vision. Are your memories hindrances to your spiritual growth, or do they spur you forward? If you spend too much time looking back, it’s time to turn your head and face front! Yesterday is gone, tomorrow is not promised to us, we have only today!
Additional Scriptures: James 4:13-15
The best way out is always through. ~Robert Frost
Shalom
Prudence
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