Memories...The Cost Of Looking Back

"NO ONE WHO PUTS HIS HAND TO THE PLOW AND LOOKS BACK IS FIT FOR SERVICE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD."

LUKE 9:62


"The mind is a terrible thing to waste." Most of us have heard this all of our lives and it's true. The mind is one of God's most amazing creations. It is also were a lot of spiritual warfare takes place. That's right...a lot of the spiritual battles waged in our lives happen in our mind. Think about it (forgive the pun), but where does Satan like to attack us the most? We are constantly thinking, worrying, agonizing or strategizing over something. It's even been made light of in cartoons and TV programs. You know, where you see the angel sitting on one shoulder and devil on the other. That stuff really happens, but instead of animated characters, it's our "old nature" vs. our "new nature."

In last weeks study of Ephesians 2 (especially verses 1-3), we talked about how it is important to realize our past. To understand where we've come from and acknowledge the mistakes we've made. Why? So we learn from it, apply it and move forward. So we learned it's a good thing to reflect on our past....but it's not good to be consumed by it.

You see our minds store all kinds of information. Good memories are stored forever and bad memories are stored forever. We're cool with the good memories, but what do we do with the bad ones? How do we handle them? What if someone has been unfair to you? What if prejudice or judgment has caused you pain? What if someone has started a rumor about you that is damaging? What if you've had a friend turn on you and betray your trust? What if you or your spouse have been unfaithful? What if someone you loved died and you're finding it hard to move on? Whatever it may be that is haunting you, how are you dealing with it?

Like I said earlier, reflection can be helpful when it comes to making positive changes to our lives. It can also be very damaging if we aren't careful in how we do it. Christ warns us of this in Luke 9:62.

If we as believers are going to follow Christ with all of our hearts, we've got to learn how to deal with looking back. This will be our focus this week and together (through our sharing and the reading of God's word), it is my prayer that we will draw closer to Him. Please pray this week for God to speak to us on this topic and to reveal His purpose through His scripture.

God Bless.