Forgetting What is Behind

Philippians 3:13-14 KJV

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

How do we forget what is behind and move on? It seems like Satan is good at bringing up the past. It is hard to move on when there are constant reminders of past sins.

Don't Faint

"[M]en ought always to pray, and not to faint." ~ Luke 18:1b

Luke 18:1-8 tells us the parable of the widow and judge. The judge did not fear God, therefore, he would not serve justice for the widow. However, the widow did not give up! The widow continued to go to him and seek justice. The judge finally served justice because the widow did not relent and it was the only way to get her to stop.

I think we can glean much from this for our current life circumstances. There is no question that some of us in America live under unjust governors and political leaders. Let us not give up! May be be relentless in seeking truth and justice. God has given us rights and we must stand for those rights!

Sin Comes in the Waiting

Genesis 12:4 KJV

So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.

Genesis 15:1-6 KJV

1 After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. 2 And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? 3 And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir. 4 And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. 5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. 6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

Genesis 17:1 KJV 

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

Genesis 17:21 KJV

But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.

I had been thinking about the story of Abraham so I opened my Bible and started reading to refresh my memory.

Abraham was 75 years old when God first told Him that He would make him a great nation. God then reminded Abraham years later of that promise. Then, ten years after God first told him taht He would bless him with children, Abraham and Sarah had felt they had waited long enough and he took Hagar so that he may have a child. Another ten years passed before Sarah conceived and had Isaac.

Now Abraham had believed God every time He said that He would make him a great nation, so why didn't he wait on His timing?

You see, sin often comes in the waiting.

We get impatient with God's timing. We think we need it now-or at least sooner than He is providing it. We try to take things into our own hands and it almost always causes grief and turmoil. Not only did Sarah end up sending Hagar and Ishmael away due to strife of having them around, but Ishmael's seed and Issac's seed have been fighting ever since.

When we are praying for something, we should also be praying that god strengthens us to wait on His timing. We know that His plans, His timing, is best, yet we still get impatient.

I think that after 40 years of trying to push my timing on His plans that I finally have my eyes opened enough to pray more for strength in waiting than for the desire itself. I am tired of the negative consequences. I am tired of the sin of not waiting leading to more sin. That first sin usually starts with a "small" disobedience, but it leads to larger and larger sins (if we don't catch ourselves and confess and repent right away).

Do you find that sin comes in the waiting? Do you pray for strength to wait on His timing?

Isaiah 60:22b 

I the LORD will hasten it in his time.

Change Begins with Us

Joel 2:12-13 KJV

12 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

There is much evil in our world today. There is much unrest and division in the USA. There are many people calling for change.

Change IS needed; however, people are looking elsewhere for change. Change needs to begin in our own hearts!

Each individual person needs to start with themselves. When people are right with God and strong in faith, then we will have strong marriages and families. When we have strong marriages and families, we will have strong communities. When we have strong communities, we will have strong counties. With strong counties, we will have strong states. And then, with strong states, we can have a strong nation.

It all begins with us! Turn to God. Seek Him. Check you heart!