“Don’t look back!”
Are you struggling with the past? Mistakes, failures, sins, pain, someone else’s past or even a life you once had can cause you to be stuck in the past. This week’s focus is on letting things from the past go! Remember Lot’s wife? Maybe you are not familiar with this woman’s story but there are lessons that we can learn from Lot’s wife in the Bible.
In Genesis 19:15, Lot was urged by angels to take his wife and family out of the city of Sodom, because God was about to destroy it. The instructions were to; “Flee for your lives! Don’t Look back!” Lot hesitated because he did not want to abandon the wealth, position and comfort he enjoyed in Sodom. (That’s a message right there, because there are some things that God wants us to put behind us and never look back, but we are too busy enjoying it). When we enjoy doing something it will cause us to delay obedience and delayed obedience is disobedience. Once God gives us a word, we need to obey. The Bible says that the men grasped his hand and the hands of his family. The Lord was merciful by sending men to help Lot and his family move to safety. Unfortunately, Lot’s wife decided to look back and she became a pillar of salt. (Genesis 19:26)
Lot’s wife turned back to look at the city of Sodom. She is known for clinging to the past and being unwilling to turn completely away. Are you looking back on your past? Is there something that has you stuck; An old relationship, a past hurt, mistake, or a life that you once had? Looking back on the past will often hinder your current progress. There are places that God wants to take you, but you can’t progress when when you are stuck in the past.
I don’t know about you, but I have experienced some things in the past that keep wanting to creep up in my thought life. If I keep holding on to them or even turn my head to look back, they make me mad all over again. Can you relate? Let’s say someone said the wrong thing to you, mistreated you or simply hurt you. You have a choice to hold onto it or let it go. Forgiveness is a choice! You can keep looking back at the situation or move forward. Sometimes our flesh just doesn’t want to let things go. You can’t change what was said or what happened. It happened! You may or may not have received an apology, but you have got to let it go if you want to move forward! We often want to hold on to it, keep talking about it and even share it with someone else but God wants us to let it go! Holding on to the past can kill you!
Looking back to long for the past or being stuck in the past because of something that happened can have a negative impact on your life, your relationships, your health and your future. Many marriages are damaged because a spouse can’t let go of something from the past. Examine yourself and see if there is anything that God wants you to let go. It’s time to let it go! Move forward and don’t look back!
Until next time . . . .
Carolyn
Marriage from A to Z 