Sometimes you have to look back!
I love catching the bus into the city. It's a 45 minute journey on special rails. The O-bahn zooms ahead at 100 kilometres-an-hour through lush green countryside. I take an assortment of books to dip into - books that help woo me into God's presence as I travel. Printed words from the Word to meditate on. A prayer diary that reminds me of the needs of family and friends, with praise music ringing in my ears. One afternoon, after catching up with a friend in the city, I got into my bus to return home.
The air was fresh and breezy. Little cotton wool clouds ambled across the azure skies. I sank into my bus seat with a smile and proceeded to enjoy my journey. And before long, it was time to get down. I tucked my prayer diary in my bag, switched my reading glasses to my sunglasses, pressed the bell and got up to leave. Something made me look back ... and what a good thing I did! There on the seat lay my favourite blue jacket in sweet repose. With a quick leap I gathered it in my arms, then sprinted to get down from the bus before it started off again.
Common-sense tells us that the best way to proceed through life's journey is by looking ahead! Usually! Mostly! Often. But sometimes ... just sometimes, we might need to glance back. This particular jacket was a favourite - I'd have missed it if I had lost it. So ... looking back might sometimes even be a necessity!
I confess that I'm quick go to God with a list of prayer needs. When He answers my prayers, I say thank you to Him ... sure I do! But ... instead of staying in that place of thanksgiving for long, I whip out a brand new list of prayer needs. I must sound like a spoiled child to Him! Over the years, there have been countless instances when God answered my heart's cries. They will build up my faith today if I take time to meditate on all He's done for me.
When we moved house three years ago, for instance, God performed a series of miracles to get us here. As I spend time reflecting on it, I am reminded what a great and powerful God He is. It agrees with scripture that nothing is impossible with Him! What encouragement it is to me now - proof right around me in my very own home that God is alive and active, that He has shown me who He is and all He can do! King David had a similar realisation. He'd been encountering hard challenges and God had seemed distant. But then ... he knew what he had to do.
"Will the Lord reject forever?
Will he never show his favour again?
Has his unfailing
love vanished forever?
Has his promise failed for all time?
Has God forgotten to be
merciful?
Has he in anger withheld his
compassion?"
Then I thought, "To this I will appeal: the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand.
I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
I will consider all
your works
and
meditate on all your mighty deeds.
Your ways, God, are holy.
What
god is as great as our God?
You are the God who performs miracles;
you
display your power among the peoples.
With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,
the
descendants of Jacob and Joseph." Psalm 77:7-15
So when life throws lemons at me and I begin to fall under the weight of them, I should not stay buried under them for long. I can spring up instead to gather them and to create a fresh pick-me-up. Recalling the delicious taste of lemonade I've sipped in the past will surely spur me on?
I can remind myself with awe and wonder that He is the same God who parted the Red Sea for the Israelites to walk through.
I can take courage in the fact that He is the same God who sent Jesus to redeem me from my sins.
I can rejoice because I know He is the God who fought my battles ten years ago, five years ago, one year ago and more ... who brought me to a place of victory.
Every. Single. Time!
I can be assured with confidence that He is the same God who will fight for me today!
Sometimes I need to look back.
- To soak my heart in memories that bless and build
- To remember all God has done for me and to give thanks and praise
- To realise with awe that as He helped me before, He will surely help me again
- To find encouragement from the faith-building, joy-giving history book of my past
- To find fresh hope for today from the past acts of a faithful, loving Father
Dear friend, are you in need of encouragement today? Pause to remember the many times that God answered your prayers in the past. Reflect on the miracles He has done in your life. Give thanks for what He did for you. He is the same God. He will never change. Take heart and be glad as you look back and remember. As He did for you then, He will work on your behalf again ... today.
"Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever." Hebrews 13:8
"I will sing of the Lord's great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all
generations." Psalm 89:1
