Straight Ahead

Why do we continually look backwards? Are we looking for clues that we missed? For signs that we didn't do something that we should have? Perhaps there is something we are looking for that gives us hope for the future? Whatever it is, there nothing in the past that we need today. The answers we seek, we are not going to find by continually revisiting stuff that we have already gone through. Yes we learned lessons as we went through these lessons life threw at us, but what we learned we take with us.

I was reminded today, that there is nothing in my past that is worth revisiting. It only causes us pain and heartache. It leaves us feeling lethargic and longing for something we didn't need then and we certainly do not need now. The past recently knocked on my door and for a moment my heart wanted to say what my brain was telling me wasn't real anymore. I knew before the knock that what I left behind was to stay behind, but for a brief moment, I wanted that time back. For a brief second, I wanted to erase the pain I felt these last few months and the heartache that I had endured for a few months.

Let me tell you something ladies, Satan tries to keep us in the past instead of where we should be looking...straight ahead. Yes, some of the lessons hurt, but God will lead us through the hurt into a better tomorrow. I struggled with a decision, I wrote in my journal: "Satan will NOT win this". I told a friend no to his visit, and then the next thing I know, yesterday was knocking on my door. Yesterday, that I had thought about constantly for months, but had not seen or heard from.

Isaiah 43:18 - But forget all that - it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. 

Amen! God will do bigger and better things in our future, He is done with our past! We don't need to dwell on our past. We don't need to revisit something (or someone) which will only bring us heartache and sorrow. Learn from the past, but don't dwell in it. Look straight ahead to the future God is promising you, if you will only follow Him. Trust Him to lead you where you need to be and not where you wish you had been. Don't chase a past that will go nowhere and has already gone nowhere.

Proverbs 4:25-27 - Look straight ahead and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don't get side tracked; keep your feet from following evil.

Does it get any clearer than that? Is dwelling in the past evil? I can tell you this, it is not good and what is not good, does not come from God. What is in the past is heartache, lessons already learned, doors that were closed and locked and this is all stuff that comes from Satan trying to prove us wrong. He wants us to believe that we need those doors unlocked in order to prevent God from working his will in our lives. Don't let Satan unlock a door you have already closed. Leave it closed and leave it in the past, where it belongs. Look straight ahead, stay on that path that has been marked for you by a God who loves you and who only wants what is best for you. Don't let the past sidetrack you from the brighter and better future. Lean on God. Trust in God and for your own benefit, follow God!

Until the next Scribble....