Even as I said that your mind shifted back in time.
Why do we look back? Something will remind us and make our minds go back in time. Smells, pictures, items, words, sounds...a lot of things can trigger memories. Some are sad and painful to go back to, and some are joyful and bring a smile back to our faces. What happens when we remember mistakes? Do we cast our eyes down in shame on the already forgiven or do we shift our gaze back forward on how God's using our mistakes for His glory?
Consequences can come of looking back. We can be hurt, sad, ashamed, etc. by what we remember. It's like putting gas into a fire. Our emotions get inflamed and burn a hole not only into our confidence, heart, and day. It also burns a hole into our relationship with God. We go back to the "Why God?"s and the "Where were you there?"s. It brings back the forgiven.
Lot's wife looked back. In Genesis 19 they tell in verse 26 that she became a pillar of salt for doing so. She looked back at her worldly "home" being destroyed instead of looking ahead at her heavenly home that was being prepared for her. We often look through dirty windows.
Ever try looking outside of one? You miss a lot because you can't see everything. The spots block your view. When we look back through a dirty window the spots of our mistakes block the beautiful parts of God in our lives. We can't see the whole beautiful picture of God's work with spots blocking our view.
In Luke 9, verse 62 tells us what Jesus thinks about looking back.
'Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."'
God can't use people who spend their lives walking backward.
You can't see what amazing plans He has for you (Jeremiah 29:11) if you're not looking in the right direction. Looking back is something we learn to do. Looking through dirty windows is a decision.
What are you learning to do now? How clean do you CHOOSE to make your windows?
One of the girls.....
Taylyr
