(Ryan Lestrange) As we embark on the bold journey of 2016 there is much hope in our hearts and anticipation in our spirits. Yes, there are challenges ahead but there is also tremendous prophetic potential. One thing has the ability to radically halt our progress and that is a continual looking back. We must fix our eyes ahead and move forward. As you begin your new year I want to share 4 major reasons not to keep looking back. Phil. 3:13- Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead
1.) It empowers discouragement, condemnation and sorrow. Living with a continual focus on the rear view mirror of life often becomes a tool of the enemy to dredge up old failures and mistakes that have long been forgotten by God and erased by the blood of Jesus. Rom. 8:1 (AMP) – THEREFORE, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit.[John 3:18.]
2.) It impairs a prophetic perspective. The prophetic spirit is a forerunning spirit (Luke 1:17) that looks ahead to what is coming. It embraces the impending promise. A person that is stuck in the past has great difficulty seeing the future and embracing what is to come.
3.) It prevents connection from a current word/move. A great general gave a prophetic word about a last days revival and said that The Lord showed him people who once moved in revival digging in their feet and refusing to embrace the current move because it looked and sounded different. This is a huge danger of living stuck in the past. God keeps growing our love for Him and the expression of that love. To live in pursuit is to live in motion!
4.) It creates an atmosphere that is alive with regret! It is certainly a wise thing to learn from our mistakes and ask: what could I have done better? Self examination and allowing The Holy Spirit to teach you are vital steps of personal growth. There is a difference between learning from a failure and continually beating yourself up because of a mistake. Deep regret can easily become an open door for a spirit of heaviness. We must fix our minds on the GOOD THINGS of God! Phil. 4:8- Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
