Not Going Back

OK, so I plan to have a journey this year that tops all others in my life. I plan to know God in a way that I never have before and to really begin to embrace my calling as a wife, mother, and contributor to the greater calling of Christ to speak the truth in love and to leave the past just where it is. Past.
Recently, our pastor spoke on leaving the past behind and the inability to go back. Instantly, I was transported to times that I have glorified in my own mind as being the "good old days." Times when I was happy, comfortable, content-or so it seemed looking back on the surface. No, the "good old days" were not so grand as my romanticized view of them was before I started looking deeper, remembering more.
At the same time as I revisited the good old days, I visited the times of shame, struggle and sin that have been held over my head for years-by my own inability to let go and move on. Now, mind you, I was self-righteously justified in not letting go of these things. I "deserved" to still feel guilt, shame and remorse. I was wrong. I shouldn't get off so easy. Right...That's exactly the type of thinking that gets you stuck in the past and stunts your growth in Christ. There are few greater tools that the enemy uses to hold us back than guilt. I'm done with that.
Through the pastor's sermon that first January morning, I found my verse for this year. My theme, if you will.

"Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:12-14 NKJV)


I haven't gotten there yet, and pray that I never do. I want to always keep moving forward. I want to hold to the lessons I have learned and to use those to teach, inspire and help others. I want Jesus to "lay hold of me" and help me to always reach forward. 
I have long told my children when they are riding their bikes or power wheels to look forward. "If you're looking behind you, you can't see where you're going!" And often times they have driven right into obstacles because they were looking back. Just like us when we get stuck in the past.  
What are you looking back on? Is it so important that you are willing to run head first into that tree up ahead? I say the same to you (and myself) "If you're looking behind you, you can't see where you're going!" And I want to see where I'm going this year! God has GOOD things in store for His children and I don't want to miss out on that because I'm looking behind instead of reaching forward to those things which are ahead. Join me this year in putting your eyes both forward and upward.


Looking Ahead,
In the Meantime