Hello! How are you doing As a Believer for many years, I am well acquainted with Jesus and what God says in His Word, the Bible. Any and every topic is covered anywhere from Genesis through Revelation.  Some of Today’s language and terms may not specifically be there, but the category sure is. “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9) Those were the words of King Solomon who was born in the 11^th-10^th century BCE (before the current era). That is way before Jesus’ birth.  My point is if there was nothing new then, and God said He is doing a new thing for us now…why do we run back to the way it used to be (former things)?

 I can’t believe how many times I absolutely choose to dwell on the past after seeing God doing a new thing in my life-even when I knew without a shadow of doubt the “new” was transforming me, blessing me, replacing character within me-then all of sudden I found myself thinking, looking back and sometimes re-visiting areas where God had already delivered me.  When I allow that to happen, I am basically telling God that I know better. “Thanks, but no thanks”. Or “I know what I am doing. It won’t be so bad”… until it is.

 

You see when we dwell on the past, we take our eyes off God and look at ourselves; but there is no growth or progress looking backwards. If anything, it’s like re-living the same “loop” over and over-but the outcome does not change-that why it is past. God always brings us out of the old to bring us somewhere new. Are you familiar with Lot’s wife? God usually prepares us when He wants us to move forward with Him.  Angels told Lot, his wife and two daughters to flee Sodom because God was about to destroy it with fire and brimstone and commanded them NOT to look back as they fled.  As soon as they ran, Lot’s wife LOOKED BACK at Sodom. Maybe because it was her home, her attachment to the only place she ever knew, she had to give up what was familiar-even though it was being destroyed and in her disobedience she (purposely) chose to look back-and she was instantly turned into a pillar of salt. Jesus said “Remember Lot’s wife! Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it.” (Luke 17:32-33)     

 

  Once one is Born-Again, one becomes a new creation. Our faith, our walk, our mind, all becomes new. Our lives begin to transform from our old lives to our new lives in Christ. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2) You may ask “how does one start a new life that transforms old to new?”  1) It starts with reading God’s Word-the Bible every day. 2) Prayer to learn God’s will for one’s life and to pray for others, 3) Consciously allowing God to transform one’s inner self and character and by choosing good thoughts instead of lies of the world.  “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24)

 

 Please know, transformation in itself is not easy and it takes time. Actually, this is an ongoing process throughout our lives. I think if God attempted it all at once, we would implode. Also, it is not God doing this for us or to us. It is because of our relationship with Him, he is able to do transform THROUGH us because we play a major part in our obedience.  Sometimes the temptation to look back and even turn back is readily there and can come out of nowhere. I have been guilty and remorseful of doing this exact thing! One can only transform with God-through

Prayer, Reading His Word and also to find a Bible Believing, Bible Teaching Church-where there is discipleship and accountability with like-minded Believers.  God is so good and so faithful to His own. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

 

Please continue to join me at A Renewed Heart as we grow together throughout our journeys.                                               

 Melody Elias