For the past month or so, God has been speaking to my heart about the fact that He is wanting to do something NEW. Sometimes we can get so stuck in the past that it actually limits the new things that God is wanting to do in our lives. God can do anything, yes, but since He gave us the freedom of choice, He needs our cooperation and willingness. I’ve been reminded of the story of Lot’s wife in Genesis 19, where God rescued Lot and his family from Sodom, and in turn rescued them from destruction. God told them to “Escape for your life. Do not look back.” But as they were fleeing, Lot’s wife looked back on the burning city and she was turned into to a pillar of salt. God freed her, but she decided to focus on the past, and that lead to her destruction. She was frozen in the past and was unable to walk into the new things God had for her.
Whoa.
This is a bit of an extreme example, but it hits home for me. I know there are situations and seasons in my life that I am tempted to look back on. Some good, some bad. When you’ve been hurt or rejected, it can be easy to dwell on that and allow it to dictate your future. Or even when a good season has ended, we can sometimes look back on it with such desire to experience “the good ‘ole days” again that we completely miss the amazing new that is right in front of us.
God has more. He is always wanting to do something new in us and through us. What a blessing! This is one of the reasons why living life with Him is never boring. It’s quite the opposite. It’s exciting!
“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” – Isaiah 43:18-19
Recently I have been listening to Bethel Music’s new album “We Will Not Be Shaken” nonstop. The song “Jesus We Love You” is one of my favorites, and the verses have especially spoken to me.
Old things have
passed
away
Your love has
stayed the same
Your constant
grace remains the
cornerstone
Things that we thought were dead
Are breathing in life again
You cause your Son to shine on darkest nights
The hopeless have found their hope
The orphans now have a home
All that was lost has found its place in you
You lift our weary head
You make us strong instead
You took these rags and made us beautiful
Whatever you have dealt with in your past, whether it was good or bad, remember this–it is in your past. The hurt, the rejection, it is behind you. You do not have to deal with it anymore. And those good times? Yes, it is good to remember and be thankful for the good! Do not forget the great things God has done. But my friend, what He has done in the past is nothing compared to what He has in store for your future. It’s going to be good. Really good.
So, let’s be like Paul and “Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead. I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 3:13-14
What lies ahead for you is far greater than what is behind you. I don’t know about you, but that gets me excited! 
