Do not remember the former things,
Nor consider the things of old.
Behold, I will do a new thing,
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert. IS 43:18-19 NKJV
It’s so easy to look in our rear view mirrors. Oh, the things we see…think about…and dwell upon. It’s difficult to get them out of our minds many times, other times it enjoyable, so our flesh thinks, to dwell there. But, should we really be there?
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Lot’s wife looked back (Gen. 19:12-29) and ultimately it led to her destruction. Here was a woman who was TAKEN BY THE HAND…touched…by an angel of God. My word, think about that! She was a woman who had this amazing spiritual experience firsthand. She was told, and inevitably must have known, that she was in a dangerous place, somewhere filled with darkness, and it was time to be led out by a very real God. A God who loved her enough to “take her hand” via His angels, to reach out to her so she would not be destroyed.
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We have a great opportunity to learn from Lot’s wife’s experience. Looking back, dwelling in those thoughts of the past, wanting what was vs. what will be can destroy us. We must be careful about looking in that rear view mirror, so to speak. Going to a new place, whether it be in our thought life, physically, eternally, habits, etc. can allow the nerves to banish thoughts of victory.
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Lot’s wife already had the victory…she was taken by the hand and taken out of destruction by the Lord’s mercy.
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She chose to look back.
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Ohhhhhh….that makes me sad. It simply came down to a choice, a choice with which she threw it all away.
It’s so easy to see that in others, yet there are times I’ve found myself walking the path of a “Lot’s wife look-alike.” In the heat of emotion, I’ve been lulled away by the lie of security in things known, even if they are destructive. Yet, the opportunity knocks once again…to run into the safety and provision of my Lord. He’s reaching to me; He’s reaching to you...today. Shall we take His hand and allow ourselves to be led into safety and the new land?
He is faithful. He will do new things. They will spring forth. He will make a road in the wilderness, that place chalk full of barrenness, and rivers, not mirages, in the desert. Really, He will. And, it will be beautiful. And, you and I will be beautiful…because of our Father.
Have a fabulous week, full of Thanksgiving as you forget the former and, instead, remember all He has done and all He is and all that will be.
In Thanks,
Kristi
In recent months this topic has weighed heavy on me and became a burden. I miss the childhood days, the times when my family was still young and all together. I always want to go back to those times and re-live them. I spend a lot of time and energy thinking of ways I could re-visit places I went to with my family as a child. Needless to say, without them it’s not even half as much fun, lonely, and not a replica of the memory I savor and dwell on. I pray to let it go and periodically I can escape from this ‘sadness’ but with this biblical reference of Lot’s wife, I am empowered. I face a challenge that has been faced before. I know now that looking back is detrimental to the plans God wants me to work on for the future. Awesome message Kristi!