And Not Look Back

Testimony Of My Life Journey

Sometimes we take a path which looks right; we've thought about things, reached conclusions in which we strongly believe, and decide to go a certain way.

It's all part of our life journey.

But life has a way of showing me when I have made a wrong turn. This may be the right thing for others to do, it's not right for me, just at this time.

The hard thing is to acknowledge my mistake and turn away from it, and in this present case, to take up again what I have been doing for most of my life with Jesus; and that is to focus on prayer.

I am reminded of one of my favourite Bible passages, Ephesians 6:10-18, which concludes: "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people" (Ephesians 6:18).

In Christian terms moving on from an error always involves forgiveness and repentance, (often forgiveness of oneself). For this to work for me I need to make some tough decisions, about letting go and pushing ahead, and then stick to them, "and not look back".

Experience shows that this is not easy. Often there are times of moving forward and then sliding back. I've heard many testimonies of other people struggling a long time to get beyond their earlier mistakes, they'll say things like: "I recognised where I was, I'd been there before, I realised that I was going around the same mountain again"!

Forgiving someone is often hard, we think "why should I forgive him, he was such a rat to me". But until we forgive the other person we cannot become free, unforgiveness cramps our heart and grows into bitterness; this hurts us badly. The other person, the one who caused the pain, is usually unaware of our continuing anguish, they carry happily on with their life.

I will remember the Lord's Prayer where Jesus tells us that forgiveness requires forgiving: "forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us" (Matthew 6:12), and that once forgiven our sins are gone from our Father's memory "you have put all my sins behind your back" (Isaiah 38:17), a liberating realisation.

This is where "and not look back" comes in. In my human weakness I like to pretend that my mistakes were not mistakes; that they were things I did which would have worked out fabulously had circumstances been a little different or I had more resources, or people had helped more, or maybe if I just spend more time thinking it through it will work out when I try it again. Mostly this is just wishful thinking. So taking the focus off me, and off the old, and really pressing into what I'm now doing is the best way; it also means that I do not become a butterfly, touching on this thing, then dashing over there and trying that, then having a try with someone else's idea ..

"Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have fully taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13-14).

The important thing is to find "the goal .. for which God has called me". Jesus is always clear in what He wants us to be involved in. When we seek His will for our life, He will say "follow me" and show a way forward. He does this all the time for all His people, though sometimes it is difficult, today, to know what He wants.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11).

"Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father" (John 14:12).

Once I have acknowledged my mistake, healing can begin. Yes, healing. We get damaged when we fall off our bike or get a splash of hot fat while cooking. We also get damaged by events and circumstances in our lives, particularly those involving other people and our relationships with them. In my present case, acting on strongly held beliefs, thinking that I could do some good, when in fact, I had very little connectedness or authority to influence others or to help steer policy or decisions.

For a number of years I've been a volunteer for politicians. They are on the conservative side. We believe: "Hey, our country is great, over centuries we grew out of some fundamentally good ideas and structures, we have a balance of fairness for everyone, including our minorities who belong, with us, in this nation. We are each able to live the kind of lifestyle we want, do the kind of work that interests us, mix with the types of people we like or admire, worship as we wish and live a life of faith if we want. Certain established and proven attributes of government, law and social structure have been put in place over centuries which ensure that our hard won freedoms are maintained (see NOTE 1).

Over the past year or two I have been getting more and more frustrated by the way our Federal government is abandoning these widely held and long established core attributes. Our freedoms are being eroded, mostly by political correctness (which is always a lie being presented as a universal truth). Trish tells me that my frustrations show when I talk to people, instead of being gracious and peaceful, I sometimes sound angry and unbending. This is not at all intended. I'm trying to speak gently and with much common sense, but this is not always how it comes out.

Fortunately, when Trish and I were very new Christians, we mixed with others who all prayed. Our prayer meetings were among the most important and exciting events of the week. They were so significant because we saw Jesus at work in the world in response to our prayers. Talk about a boost for your faith! To witness someone healed of an illness, or to see seemingly impossible changes of heart or of circumstances is incredible. Testimonies of miracles abound. In our family and my own life there have been many miracles. Prayer is a part of our sharing with Jesus in His work on the earth. It is us speaking into the spiritual world with power given by God Himself.

"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power" (1 Corinthians 4:20).

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us" (2 Corinthians 4:7).

"The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds" (2 Corinthians 10:4).

"For the Spirit God gives us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-control" (2 Timothy 1:7).

"Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done - by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God" (Romans 15:17-18).

Jesus often taught His people to pray, and to pray "always, and not give up" (Luke 18:1-4). Sometimes we don't see an immediate response to our prayers, but I find that knowing that I am sharing my burdens and all my issues with God is extraordinarily reassuring. Also, frequently seeking Jesus' will for me is an essential part of my prayer life.

"Yet, Lord my God, give attention to your servant's prayer and his plea for mercy. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence" (2 Chronicles 6:19).

Whilst living in New Jersey many years ago we attended prayer meetings based on "ACTS": "Adoration (singing and worship), Contrition (repentance and forgiveness), Thanksgiving (being grateful), Supplication (prayer and intercession)". I found this to be a great way to be balanced and to not simply come to my Lord with a big shopping list and perhaps sound like a whinger. "ACTS" has stayed with me even if we don't see those people any more. Often now I'm less formal in my prayers. That group also used to journal all the prayer requests and record when that need was met. It was so very encouraging to see how many needs were met, and in many cases, how quickly.

"In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you" (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Now on a Saturday evening, before dinner, Trish and I will often take an hour or so and simply soak in prayer with Jesus and our Father. As we are each unique, this soaking prayer is probably different for everybody. My time is spent remembering lovely encounters I've had with Jesus and things that I'm grateful for. I ponder recent national or family events, not to find solutions, but rather to bring all my concerns before the King of kings and Lord of lords. These times are very rich. We conclude with communion together, and a time of sharing. Both Trish and I feel that these are some of the most productive times of our week!

"And not look back" takes on a real importance when seen like this, pressing forward is a discipline which helps us to be balanced and peaceful in our place in the world, and to live out "faith, hope and love" in our life (1 Corinthians 13:13).

Amen

Favourite Bible Verses

'Jesus replied, "No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God"' (Luke 9:62).

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people" (Ephesians 6:10-18).

NOTE 1 - The Core Of Democracy - Freedoms hard won by our ancestors, most of which are based on Christian principles from the Ten Commandments of God and from Jesus' teaching:

·         Freedom of speech

·         Freedom of conscience, and by extension, freedom of thought

·         Freedom of association, and by extension, freedom of religion, worship and faith

·         Everyone being equal under the law, even the Queen and Prime Minister, and by extension, giving everyone else, and expecting for oneself, a "fair go" - a very Australian concept, broadly and deeply felt

·         Democratic governments where every adult person contributes to the selection of governments, and can influence how laws are enacted and repealed

·         Being protected in our nation, internally by our laws and police, and externally by well trained and well equipped military forces

·         Enjoying universal health care

·         Taxation for all, together with support and welfare systems ensuring that the rich don't eventually own all the assets, and the poor or disabled or unable-to-cope can live, with food and shelter and can still send their kids to school ..

Hallelujah!

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Amen.