Looking forward...

GOOD MORNING!

But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward. (Jeremiah 7:24 KJV)

They didn't listen or obey, they walked out "their" plan in a stubborn, disagreeable, displeasing unhappy inner man kinda way. This caused them to move backwards rather than forwards.

My friends, how sobering to read what many of us still do today! Simply breaking this down for application for us today...Let us not allow our thoughts to captivate us from moving forward, Amen!

How often something stews within us...we become determined to do what we want how we want to...we are motivated by a fiery disaster of pride and determination to see things our way...we become angry...bitter...or jealous over a situation and we allow our minds to imagine an outcome that does not glorify God.

These thoughts don't just paralyze us, it says we move backwards...literally further away from the goal we desired to achieve.

It is so important to examine ourselves, our motives, and the desires of our hearts. We can have good desires, but if we don't get what we expect...we become disappointed...disappointment leads to...judgement....judgement leads to disaster...we end up punishing God, others, & always ourselves!

Whatever the circumstance, may we listen to God and follow after His counsel...take every thought captive into the obedience of Christ...that we may move forward! It is sooooo good to move forward...staying in the past is hurtful and ugly. Brooding and discontent is so overrated LOL! Really, the negative emotions that nag at us are defeating...no one wins. Its hard not to allow our feelings and emotions to have the best of us, HOWEVER... let us ask ourselves one question the next time we are feeling a little rebellious or stubborn...

Ready...Question to ask ourselves is this: "Is this working for me?!!" "Does this glorify God?"  Lets face it, all of the energy it takes to do things the wrong way is so much more tiring than jumping on board, humbling ourselves and doing it the right way! It may be harder to get yourself to move out, but once you do, you will have found little to no exaggerated effort at all!

God help us ALL, to desire to move forward...leave the yucky stuff in the past...let it go...look to forgive...seek forgiveness...let us lay down our rights for the benefit of another. Remember yesterday's devotion...the reason why we do what is right because we are the children of God. Satan desires to sift us like wheat and keep us ineffective for the Kingdom of God. Let us see the benefit of staying focused on what is ahead of us, rather being stuck on what is behind us, Amen!

BE BLESSED! YOU ARE POSITIONED BY GOD AND HIGHLY FAVORED!!!

With much love for the Brethren!