Is Your Past Tripping You Up?

Good Morning Ladies (and few gents),

Today’s devotion included below “Is Your Past Still Tripping You Up?” is a reminder from GiG Gwen that, “…it’s time to move forward. That it’s time to fix our eyes on what is ahead, not on what is behind. And that God’s mercies are new every day.”

GiG, some people I talk with on a regular basis (young and old alike) are being tripped up by their past. Maybe the Holy Spirit just brought someone to mind or maybe it is you.

Unfortunately, it is often the words of others that keep us stuck. It is one thing to “go back to go forward” as taught in Emotionally Healthy Spirituality but quite another to go back and camp out there frozen in fear, guilt, or condemnation.

Last year I read Christine Caine’s book Unexpected: Leave Fear Behind, Move Forward in Faith, Embrace the Adventure, which convicted me. For a time I wasn’t letting God work His wonders in my life. I was actually doing things that were blocking his blessings. OUCH!

Maybe you were like me or maybe today for the first time you realize you are not letting God work His wonders in your life. Then do as I did and make a change.

PUT YOUR BROKEN PIECES INTO GOD'S HANDS AND WATCH HIM USE THEM TO WORK HIS WONDERS!—CC

GiG, true talk—if we’re not doing anything with all the stuff we’re learning, we’re not really learning anything. OUCH or Amen! What are we putting into action?

22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. James 1:22-25 NLT

Don’t get this twisted; entire generations of people suffer when we who are called to lead shrink back under our fear and trepidation. Yes, our culture needs people right now who live with a bias toward action—wise action that is, and not foolish action; but action instead of inaction, for sure. That can only be accomplished if we move from being hearers only, if we excavate the wounds in our past, and seek/find healing for ourselves and others.

May we be encouraged to stand out from the crowd and go against the flow, focus on the God of our dream more than the dream itself and recognize the reward of faith is freedom in Christ.

God’s Got It…so we can HOPE— Grace meets us in the asking and settles it with God. Because of this we can move forward in His grace. Even when life is complicated and messy. Gwen Smith

Called to serve and encouraging others to thrive,

DEA: Embracing a Work-Hard, Rest-Well Life and Loving My Priorities, Loving My Life