On the last Sunday of a year…several years back…I was sitting in the service at The Wisdom Center where my good friend and mentor, Dr. Mike Murdock is the Pastor and Founder.

During the service, Dr. Murdock asked me to share what we should know to make the new year….successful.  I asked the Lord what He would have me say and instantly He gave me six words.

“Quit Looking In The Rearview Mirror.”

I immediately realized that God was not offering a highway safety tip but He was imparting a real spiritual truth to be released into my life and yours as well.

Luke 9:62 in the New Century Version says:

“Jesus said, "Anyone who begins to plow a field but keeps looking back is of no use in the kingdom of God."

If you’re waiting to bring in a new harvest. . .if you’re wanting to reap the benefit of what you’ve sown. . .then stop looking back.

If someone has hurt you in the past. . .leave it there.  Don’t harbor any resentment . . . don’t add any painful memories to your mental play list.

I encourage you to visit our website www.debtfreearmy.organd read “It’s Not in the Bible.”  In this teaching I point out that there must be a reason that God left the word “unforgiveness” out of the scriptures.  It’s one thing that will keep God from answering your prayers. . .simply because, He will not hear them. Take time to read this important teaching.

In short, if you look back on the past to either review, replay or re-live particular moments in time, then the Word says you are of no use to the kingdom of God.  God’s kingdom is heading in only one direction—forward.  If you’ll notice in Ephesians 6, God gives us no armor to put on our backs.

There is only one time in scripture where someone looked back and it didn’t work out too well for Lot’s wife. . .she turned into a pillar of salt.

Don’t recall sinful events for which you’ve been forgiven. . .if you look back and bring them into your remembrance. . .then you’ve allowed the enemy to gain a foothold into your thought process.  The sooner you realize his tricks, the better off you will be.

I’ve stated many times before that if God has forgiven you of your sins. . .He will not bring them up again.  He can’t. . . simply because He doesn’t remember them.

Isaiah 43:25 in the Amplified Bible says:

“I, even I, am He Who blots out and cancels your transgressions, for My own sake, and I will not remember your sins.”

The Message Bible translation of Isaiah 43:25 says:

“But I, yes I, am the one who takes care of your sins—that's what I do. I don't keep a list of your sins.”

How can God bring up your past sins. . .if He does remember them or even keep a list of them?

God will not bring up your past. . .but the enemy will.  But he can only get away with it if you let him.  That’s why you have to forget the past and move forward.

Philippians 3:13-15 in the New King James Version says:

“. . .forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

We’re just a few days into the new year. . .the new decade. . .that’s why it’s absolutely imperative that you forget the sins, the mistakes of the past. . they are covered by the blood of Jesus.

The devil wants to make faces at you through the rear view mirror of your life but you must rebuke him. . .claim your benefits as a born-again, demon-chasing Child of God.

Psalm 103:1-2 says:

“Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.”

Every believer should grab a hold of the phrase that says “forget not all his benefits.

The word benefit according to the Strong’s Concordance is the Hebrew word gĕmuwl (H1576) which  means:

 “dealing, recompense, benefit.”

In fact, the word benefit is found 19 times in 17 verses according to the Hebrew Concordance of the King James Bible.  Ten of those times the Hebrew word for benefit is translated as recompense.

The word recompense is defined in dictionary.com with three “R’s”. . .they are:

“repay; remunerate; reward.”

I’d say it’s pretty important that you not forget your benefit package.

Now do you want to say it with me?  “I’ve got benefits and I will no longer look in the rearview mirror of my life!”

Remember this. . .if you keeping looking where you’ve been, then you’ll never get where He wants you to go.

It’s time to stop rehearsing our hurts. . .”forgetting those things which are behind.”  If the things. . .and that includes the people who have done us wrong. . .are in the past. . .then leave them there.

Quit thinking about what “might have been” and take hold of what “can be” as you allow God to empower your life during 2010.

Mark Twain once commented, “I’ve been through some terrible things in my life including some that actually happened.”

If you want to maximize your potential for the Kingdom in the new year, then you must learn how to manifest 2 Corinthians 2:5 in your life now!

“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought

to the obedience of Christ.”

Forget the past. . .bring every thought into captivity. . .NOW!

This is especially true when it comes to your finances.  If you’ve bought something you regret. . .something you couldn’t afford. . .made an unwise investment, then ask for forgiveness. . .deal with it and move on.

It’s time for us to stop talking about what has, could’ve or should’ve been. . .God told us to occupy the land.  He did not encourage us to reminisce or commiserate about the past. . .He said, FORGET IT!

The only thing we should remember about this past year is how God manifested His presence in our lives.  That’s why I have repeatedly encouraged people to list the blessings of God in the six major areas of their lives during the past year.

How did God manifest His blessings in the spiritual, family, financial, physical, mental and social areas of your life?

If you haven’t listed the blessings of God in the past year. . .I strongly encourage you to do so. . .once you’ve finished this teaching.

As you reflect on what God did for you in the past year. . .then He will help you achieve even greater goals in the new year.

Child of God, you have benefits. . .the scripture says that you will be recompensed by the Lord.

2 Samuel 22:25 says:

“Therefore the LORD hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye sight.”

If you’ve obeyed His instructions. . .if you’ve stopped looking in the rear view mirror, then He will bless you. . . remunerate you. . .repay you. . .reward you.  Not only that, He will give you a fresh start.

2 Samuel 22:21-25 in the Message Bible says:         

“God made my life complete when I placed all the pieces before him. When I cleaned up my act, he gave me a fresh start. Indeed, I've kept alert to God's ways; I haven't taken God for granted. Every day I review the ways he works, I try not to miss a trick. I feel put back together, and I'm watching my step. God rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes.”

This message is so important that it’s repeated again almost word for word in Psalm 18:20-24 in the Message Bible where it says:

“God made my life complete when I placed all the pieces before him.  When I got my act together, he gave me a fresh start. Now I'm alert to God's ways; I don't take God for granted. Every day I review the ways he works; I try not to miss a trick. I feel put back together, and I'm watching my step. God rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes.”

If you’ve been looking in the rearview mirror. . .ask God to forgive you. . He’s listening to you right now. . .if you’re serious. . .He’s ready to hear and help you.

Psalm 145:18 Message Bible says:

“God's there, listening for all who pray, for all who pray and mean it.”

Stop looking in the rear view mirror. . .drive straight ahead into God’s divine purpose and plan for your life.  You are a decision maker, a world changer and I believe God has great plans for you in the new year. . .but you will never see them by looking back.

God told us to “press” . . . to actively pursue. . .go after. . .to be focused and to stop at nothing. . .until we secure the prize. . .the high calling. . .that’s what I call being a real winner for Him.

 

 

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