[Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: STOP LOOKING BACK

By Oke Chinye

Read: Genesis 19:1-26

Meditation verse:

“Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old” (Isaiah 43:18).

Remember Lot’s wife? She looked back towards Sodom despite being warned not to, and she became a pillar of salt. Looking back can represent thinking of the past with regret, fear, or longing. One of the ways the enemy tries to keep you down is by constantly reminding you of your past failures, errors, wrong choices, sins, and setbacks until you become imprisoned in it. He wants you to focus only on what is wrong with you, until you lose your faith in God and in yourself.

“Selective Attention” is a concept in psychology that states that as humans, we selectively attend to what supports what we believe and selectively ignore what does not. Selective attention amplifies what we attend to, in size, frequency, amplitude and emotional tone. It determines what we physically orientate towards and move towards even when trying to avoid it. This is one of Satan’s strategies. If he can get you to believe that you are a failure, then you will only notice the ways you have failed. You will ignore your victories and who you are in Christ Jesus. You must resist him until he flees.

God urges us to forget the former things and focus on the new. You cannot turn a new chapter of your life if you keep reliving the former one. Apostle Paul understood this when he said: “…but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead” (Phil 3:13). No matter how messed up you are right now, what lies ahead of you is more important because of the finished work on the cross.

So, what should you do today? If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, remember that your past sins are forgiven, look forward to a more glorious future because of your hope in Christ. If you have not yet accepted Him, pause now, and confess your sins to Him. Ask Him to forgive you and come into your heart as Lord and Saviour. Then believe that you are forgiven. It is as simple as that.

IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

For Prayers and Counseling email [email protected]

or call +2348155525555

For more enquiries, visit: www.rockteachingministry.org.