Looking Back to Move Forward

Today, as I was sitting and doing my daily bible reading. I begin to think back on things, I wish could be erased from the history book of my life. Yet, the sad truth is that its impossible. Time spent looking back, is hardly ever used for positive but rather the negative. Instead of looking back and considering the short comings of your past that will only place a hindrance on your present. Why not look back at the good, that it may launch you forward.

A good example of someone told to look back was Joshua, Joshua in Chapter 1 of the book of Joshua is now stepping up to plate after his leader Moses had struck out and went to be with the Lord. In Joshua 1:5 God speaks unto Joshua  “As I was with Moses so will I be with thee.” Now you must notice the impact that this statement made in Joshua’s mind. He had walked with Moses and was his right hand man. He was a wonderful servant, that gave Moses great aid in his ministry. His walk with Moses wasn’t a boring time but it was a walk packed with works of God that even today we still cant come to fathom. Imagine how much more of a overwhelming force such works would have on you today if your own eyes beheld them.

Lets consider a few things Joshua witnessed, being Moses’s side kick.

• Moses was in Egypt and God being with him freed those who were slaves under the hand of an evil ruler. They faced whips across their backs and was forced to work with limited resources. However, God with the lambs blood on the doorpost God delivered them.
• When Moses was at the Red Sea in a hard spot pinned between Pharaoh and  the Red Sea. God made a way for Moses through the Red Sea, and crushed those behind in the same sea. They watched their biggest enemies to be washed away right before their eyes.
• When they was in Morah and the waters were bitter, God made the waters sweet to satisfy their thirst.
• When they had empty bellies in the wilderness, God brought provision from heaven to feed them.

The entire life of Moses was proof that God is faithful unto his people. And God is saying, Joshua I never failed Moses, and I will never fail you. Obey what i say, and do as I say do. Then Joshua you will have someone to look at you and the works I did through you one day.

Friend, do we not have 66 books in one book? That has and endless supply of examples of God being faithful and God not failing his people? Then why can we not recall God’s work in saints of old, and trust he is the same God for us as he was for them? His promises never fail, and his words are always faithful! He is with us, just as he was with Moses, and Joshua. He will keep the promises hes made to you.

Whatever is in front of you fret not over it. Just look back, and see all the glorious works God has done. He is wanting you to stay in the dark clouds, so that after he may present unto you a beautiful rainbow after the storm. Move forward and have faith in him who is faithful to bring a work forth from you.

Destroying Doubt

Our lives are filled with experiences that if left up to us, we would have never faced. Life has a way of breaking us but also exalting us. Good times of pleasure allow us to rejoice and think highly of ourselves. While bad times of sadness leave us in despair and hating ourselves. Doubt grips the mind but also the soul, and sucks all hope away. But in time of doubt I sprint to find a finish line of hope in Gods word.

My Doubt

Wrestling with the inability to sufficiently do my calling of God, that is to preach and pastor a flock of his, I’ve became overwhelmed with my own drive. Thinking I will never study enough, I never will have the intelligence needed to do my job. To preach God’s word in such a way that it will make others fall in love with the author. The same way that I have fallen in love with him. So I found this precious gift in scripture that allowed me some peace in my storm.

Matthew 14:22-32 

Understanding who has sent you v.22

In this verse Jesus compelled his disciples to get into the boat and go unto the other side. This is key to destroying doubt. For if we know that we are obeying what Christ has commanded, we can have hope in the fruit that Christ can bring with it.

Understand who controls your circumstance v.24

The wind was driving the boat the opposing way from which they wanted to go. Keeping them in a spin. A glorious thing to note, Christ made the seas Col 1:16 “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:” One may be in a storm, with winds pushing in the opposing direction, in my case the wind of doubt. Never forget that those winds have a purpose and that those winds was made by Christ. For if Christ Created the seas, he also controls the seas.

The situation is sometimes longer than wanted v.25

The fourth watch, the final watch. A long time they had been out trying to get unto the other side. Yet all attempts were failing. In life this can be true also, climbing and climbing yet feeling as if you will never reach the mountain top. Not always will a prayer be answered or a situation be changed on time(or rather, in our time). However, Christ showed up when he seen fit for him to do so.

Who is your main concern v.28-29

After Christ makes his announcement that it is him, Peter no longer wanted to be in the boat. He wanted to reach Christ. What is our concern in anytime we are faced with doubt? Is it to turn away from our helper? Is it to turn to a particular sin for comfort? For as Peter, we should not want to get anywhere but closer to Christ! Doubt should drive us to dive at the saviors feet!

Get comfort in Christ v.31

Peter called and Christ answered. In times of doubt we are sinking in to places which we are afraid of. We should call unto Christ. For we see the comfort in him, for he catches us. When doubt is in full throttle. Throw yourself upon Christ, see him, cherish him, adore him, and in doing so the storm stops on a dime.