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Matthew 6:9-11 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. (10) Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (11) Give us this day our daily bread. (KJV)
If you notice throughout the Bible our Lord encourages us to keep in the now, today, nothing more nothing less. Our thoughts and ideas deal in the past, could a, would a, or should a, none of which has any bearing on today. Another deception the enemy will try and bog down the people of God with is thinking too far ahead, trying to figure out or analyze situations one claims were given over to God, you know that stuff about casting all your care upon Him? Finding that just balance and staying there will keep you more grounded in the realm of the Spirit while anything else will keep you stuck in your own little world. When you look at the manner or pattern our prayer life should be you notice God deals with us today, dealing with what is on our plate for this day. Just like with our physical body, you wouldn’t eat enough in one sitting to last you all week or month; neither should you be praying and thinking past today, as either scenario would not be healthy. By the way, this example of prayer is just an outline, not something that should be recited word for word on a continual basis like some robotic clone. You know how healthy you would be if you monitored your intake on a daily basis and only ate the right healthy portions that were needed, now translate that into the spiritual so that you can get and stay healthy spiritually as well. Exodus 16:11-15 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, (12) I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God. (13) And it came to pass, that at even the quails came up, and covered the camp: and in the morning the dew lay round about the host. (14) And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground. (15) And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat. (KJV) When you look at the above examples we see mankind murmuring and questioning our Lord and His ways, which if I was to ask for a show of hands I am sure we all have been guilty of this at some time in our walk, I know my hand would go up. Like with the phrase, “when all is said and done, a lot more will be said than done”, many times the murmurings and doubts were a result of our own thinking rather than coming into agreement with someone else’s thoughts which are so much higher than ours. The Lord has never forgotten His people and He hasn’t forgot about you or your need; in fact before the foundation of this world He already planned your life out and provided the provisions needed for your walk. Now, this day are you willing to walk the path He set in place for you, the one path of life that leads to your eternal reward? If you find yourself lacking or short of what is needed then maybe that time you have spent murmuring could be put to better use; like thanking our Lord instead of doubting. Maybe you need to recheck to make sure you are on the right path also so that you don’t miss out as well. Being a truck driver in my past I am quite familiar with how a small deviation or wrong turn can totally cause me to miss my delivery appointment as well as pick up, causing some rather loud tumultuous murmurings. Point is, with what is being discussed are you where you need to be for today, doing and taking thought for what the Lord is asking, and not on what you think you are lacking, or what the enemy is trying to distract you with? Exodus 16:16-19 This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his tents. (17) And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less. (18) And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating. (19) And Moses said, Let no man leave of it till the morning. (KJV) Can you imagine a world where mankind just took what was needed and didn’t stockpile things that many times they don’t end up using anyways? How about a realm where people that were able to gather a bit more were willing to share with those that could not? Talk about a campaign promise, there’s one that will get someone elected, well at least with God it will. What if you only dealt with today, right now, and did not think so far ahead, or be concerned with tomorrow; how much easier would your life be without so much excess baggage? How about your own household; if you were to do a personal inventory would you find things that you haven’t put to use for years, yet when it was purchased it was something you had to have? Having just dealt with finding a different place to live I know I have found things that the Lord describes as ‘if not in use then it is abuse’. It is amazing when talking with other home owners how they all say the same thing; that they need to do personal inventory and get rid of the excess. So before you go asking the Lord for more maybe He is asking you to check to make sure you are using all that has been given already before He wants you stockpiling on top of the stockpile. Exodus 16:20-21 Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank: and Moses was wroth with them. (21) And they gathered it every morning, every man according to his eating: and when the sun waxed hot, it melted. (KJV) Spiritually we have all asked for more wisdom and insight into the things of God; however, if the truth be known we still haven’t utilized all that the Lord has given us already, sometimes overlooking smaller simple areas of our walk. Remember, it’s those that have been faithful in that which is least, which translates into something many consider small and trivial, are those that will then be faithful in much. So before you go overlooking the small things thinking you can leapfrog unto bigger and better it’s the simple areas that can cause one to trip and fall, not the big and obvious ones that many are looking for. So for today, keep it simple, deal in the now so that your life won’t be a breeding ground for worms and any other stinking thinking. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Philippians 3:13-14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (KJV)
In a time and a realm where we are constantly trying to remember things, and remind ourselves of things that are vital in our daily walk, there are certain things that we need to forget as well and leave behind us. Once you have put your hand to the plow it is important not to be looking behind you, but rather forward so that you will be able to work in whatever field our Father has you in today. The prize is in front of you and not behind you. So if someone is trying to remind you of your past or bring any transgressions from that imaginary realm, be certain it is not of God. Psalms 103:11-13 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. (KJV) Did you know that the Lord not only has forgiven our trespasses but has forgotten them as well? We still at times try to equate God to our thinking and standards rather than realizing how much higher His mercy is. God is not bound by emotions and mood swings, but is longsuffering to all; not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. Although mankind may try to bring up the past and hold it against us the Lord has already forgotten our past transgressions that we have asked forgiveness for, and we are now walking in a newness of life. Any time we start wandering in the past it is similar to a grave robber, digging up dead things that are buried and unhealthy. Micah 7:18-19 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. (KJV) It is our Father’s delight to take our iniquities and throw them into the depths of the sea. It is like a parent who is able to watch a child that has been addicted to drugs take a boat ride out to the deepest part of the sea and dump their stash into the depths of it and begin a new life free from the addiction. You forget the heartache of the past and rejoice in the joy, peace, and liberty of the new life that is brought forth. Isaiah 57:20-21 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked. (KJV) Are you as willing to forgive others the way you were forgiven? Not only forgiving, but how about the forgetting part also? Are you able to forgive yourself or are you deep sea diving in the sea of forgetfulness trying to dig up dead things that should be left buried there? Your answer is not down below wallowing in the mire, but it is in front of you; look forward and walk in the new life God has given you. You wonder at times why you don’t have peace, well quit digging up dirt, whether it is on others or yourself, because basically you end up calling God a liar and saying His mercy didn’t cover the transgression. Lamentations 3:22-23 It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. (KJV) Is every day new to you also? Are you walking in the newness of the life given you in Christ, and not bogged down with your old fallen nature? Are you staying in the word of God, and renewing your mind with all the spiritual blessings you have been blessed with? Or are you drifting out to sea in uncharted troubling waters being blown to and fro with every wind of doctrine? The Lord never fails, so if you are not experiencing the peace and joy you should be, most likely you have fallen overboard and have forgotten your life preserver. Luke 6:36-37 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: (KJV) Are you as merciful to others as our Father is to you? Are you as forgiving to others also? The key is learning to rightly divide the word of truth, as well as being able to identify the difference between the voice of God and the voice of a stranger, the enemy. God is dealing with us today, right now, this moment, while the enemy is trying to get us to go deep sea fishing in the dead sea to get us to dredge up another distraction that is vain and empty. Knowing the difference will save you from a lot of heartache and misery so that you will be reminded not only of the forgiveness for yourself, but that of others also. Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, (KJV) Have you noticed in political campaigns how the first thing the candidates do, is try to dig up some dirt on their opponents? So to add insult to injury, they then go out and about broadcasting their opponent’s former transgressions, or alleged ones that are only meant to discredit them. The devil runs his own smear campaign on the body of Christ also, making false accusations to discredit them as well. For those that know the truth and keep their minds renewed in it, they will not be pulled into these mudslinging campaigns, but rather they will continue in the liberty in Christ, and walk in the freedom of mercy and forgiveness; not continually asking or seeking forgiveness for things that are not only forgiven, but forgotten. The reason some keep laying this foundation of repentance from dead works is because they are still entrapped in the works of the law. And rather than receiving the grace and mercy afforded by the new law of faith, they continue to seek justification through the works of the old law and its dead rituals. It is so much easier to forget the past if we are no longer living in it and the dead works of our youth; which, what we thought would bring us closer to God was actually drawing us farther away and sinking our ship. Out of sight, out of mind; so the further removed we are from our old way of thinking the more we are able to walk in a newness of life; each day being a new opportunity to worship our Father in spirit and in truth. So if there is something or somebody trying to remind you of your past, forget it and keep pressing forward. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Philippians 3:12-15 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. (KJV)
Paul didn’t claim to be perfect but he was mature in Christ and was able to grow up into Him in all things. Paul had quite a past, one that included his involvement in persecuting the Church and wasting it. We all have our own past and for every different believer there is a different one. But as we clearly see, Paul found that his answer was before him, the path in front of him this day, right now. How much easier would your path be if you only dealt with the things God has for you this day, at this moment; not thinking on things behind, neither getting caught up with things too far down the road ahead of you. Are you open to change and willing to walk a new path of life the Lord has for you, or are still trying to get results by doing things the same old way? Does your life seem stagnant at times; like on a treadmill, you keep exerting energy but don’t get anywhere and always end up at the same place you started from? If you keep doing the same thing trying to get to your spiritual destination by old watered down doctrines you will find yourself coming up short and missing the mark. If you desire new results it will require a new mindset and a willingness to walk in it as well. 2 Corinthians 5:17-19 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. (KJV) The reason Paul was able to forget the past is because the old things were passed away and he wasn’t reliving them over and over again. The reason many Christians have a hard time forgetting their past and moving forward is because they are not willing to let go of the old so that they too can walk a new path in Christ. Similar to a movie that came out years ago called Groundhog Day; the character in the movie kept living the same day over and over again and getting the same results. When something is passed away it should be buried and left there. So if there is someone or something reminding you of your past get out of the cemetery and move on to a new life the Lord has for you. Is every day a new experience for you? One of joy and peace, with a confidence and trust in the Lord that builds you up more and more on a daily basis, or are you being let down again because you expected to get new results from your old ways? A new life means you will need to walk a new path, one that draws you closer to the Lord not further away. Romans 7:4-6 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. (KJV) Paul was well versed in the Old Testament and the things of the old law. It was his zeal in holding to the law that caused him to be at odds with the early Church. It was his willingness to let go of the old ways that set him free to walk in the newness of the Spirit; and in the end he went from being one of the Church’s worst enemies to one of its best assets. Is there something you are hanging onto from the past that keeps you from walking in the new instead of being a new creation in Christ, walking in the victory afforded you? Are you hanging onto something from your past and because of this you can’t get past the hindrance in your walk that keeps you buried in defeat? 2 Kings 5:9-12 So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean. But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage. (KJV) Naaman was a great captain of Syria and had leprosy. He was instructed to go to Elisha a man of God to find a cure. Naaman was angry at the answer he received because he had his own preconceived ideas and notions on how God should provide the answer. Sound familiar? Ever wonder how in reading the Old Testament our own lives correlate with these situations, and how similar our old way of thinking is at times? How we at times have been trapped in our own spiritual leprosy and are unable to be set free because we were not willing to follow through with the spiritual prescription God had for us. If you desire something new, then you have to let go of the old; otherwise, instead of leaving the past behind we end up left behind, and falling short of the mark of the prize. 2 Kings 5:13-14 And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean? Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. (KJV) If the Lord sends someone to give you sound advice, will you give heed to it or throw a hissy fit and keep trying your old stagnant ways? Will you walk in a newness of life today, walking by faith and not by sight, a faith in that which the Lord has promised? He is more than able to deliver, but only on His terms and conditions, which are at times so much different than our way of thinking. You have a Bible, the word of God, full of first-hand accounts of what the Lord is ready, willing, and able to provide for any that are willing to leave the past behind and partake of the river of life that will make them clean and renewed. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. |
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