Don’t Look Back

“But Jesus said to him, ‘No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God’” (Luke 9:62).

I know this will not be a shock to anyone who reads these words today, yet we must be keenly aware that there are so many things that compete for our time and attention. Some of these “things” are good and noble, and some of these “things” are not good or productive. At the end of all the thinking on “things” though, the conclusion of the matter is we are given the freedom and ability to choose that which we allow to be the focus of our lives. If we just try to stay afloat without thinking or praying, we find ourselves surviving instead of thriving. It is so easy to not get rid of bad habits because we at least know what to expect and what to do. When God starts helping us to focus on something better and healthier, we are at a loss for awhile on how to live with the change. That’s why it is so much easier to look back and try to live in the past.

The Israelites really struggled with this when leaving Egypt. They struggled with looking back so much that they never made it forward. All they could think about was the comparison between the luxuries in Egypt with the barrenness of the desert. Even though God completely provided miracles for them and freed them from the cruelty of slavery, they could not stop thinking of the comforts of their bad lifestyle over the freedom of their new lifestyle. And they never learned to work it out with the Lord. They just complained about it. As much as we hate to admit it, we struggle with the same things at times.

If we really think about it, life was not better before we accepted Truth and became of a follower of Jesus. The difference is that we didn’t have anyone to blame our issues on then, but now the tendency is to blame them on God. How silly but how true! Life is so much better knowing the Lord. We have the power of prayer, the indwelling Holy Ghost, the promises of hope for an everlasting life. We have fellowship with Him, and we should have a great attitude. But we need to learn how to put the Lord first in everything and have Him lead us, instead of figuring out our own needs and asking the Lord to meet them.

By giving our lives to Jesus, we should never look back. There is nothing back there worth living for any way. If you are struggling with bringing the past into the future, ask the Lord to help you focus on the kingdom of God. Ask the Lord to help you open your heart to receive all He has for you. Then move forward in His Name! Don’t look back…Don’t live in the past…Don’t drag yesterday into today…Don’t allow the enemy to remind you of things our Lord has forgotten…Don’t spend time in the grave yard of death that is the past, but rather live in the vineyard that is the present and future of abundance in Jesus! Today is the first day of the rest of your life – Don’t Look Back!

Pray with me:

Lord Jesus, thank you for this day, a new day, the first day of the rest of my life. Help me to leave the past buried in the past so that I may fulfill your purpose for my life. I commit to be renewed by your presence and power, and I open my self to receive all that you have for me. My hands are off the controls of my life, and they are uplifted and open in surrender to your guidance and leadership so I may be fit for the Kingdom. I’m no longer looking back. I’m keeping my eyes fixed on you in expectation for the fulfillment of all you have destined for me. Amen.