Do you find yourself feeling stuck or in limbo during this quarantine? Life is starting to return to normal, but in the middle of the now and the not yet, while we wait and hope to return to life, we need to move forward today.
Last week, I wrote about failure. At one point in all our lives we face the “f” word. Perhaps because of the focus on dealing with failure and this extra time during the quarantine, the word God keeps speaking to me is “forward.”
“Keep moving forward,” plays in my mind all day. When the task of painting a room in my home seems daunting, I hear, “Keep moving forward.” When I am stuck writing my new Bible study on Esther, yep, you guessed it, “Keep moving forward.”
Is it perfect? No. I’m still revising, but it’s getting there. Is the room painted? No. But I’ve begun prepping the walls. The hardest thing about these tasks is that they are not quick. They are marathons or at least 10 K’s. They take patience and effort.
Keep Looking Forward, Not Back
God has me tinkering with many new projects. And I’m tempted to do them like I’ve done other projects in the past, or do what someone else has done.
Confession: I can spend hours on the internet researching the do’s and don’ts of something, reading or watching authors/influencers and trying to fit into their shoes.
But God says, “NO! Stop looking back. Stop trying to do the same thing. let me show you a new way. Don’t try to do it like someone else.”
I love this scripture in Isaiah:
See, I am doing a new thing!
Isaiah 43:19 NIV
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.
Question: When you aren’t able to do things like you did before, does it drive you crazy? Do you struggle when you aren’t able to do a task like your mom did? Does it make you feel like a failure? I’m here to tell you that you’re not a failure. You’re not lazy or slow. Nope.
You have permission to do it differently. Think outside the box. But don’t think too long. Paralysis by analysis is deadly for any project. Keep moving forward.
Don’t Repeat Yesterday
Have you seen this quote? “Stop looking for happiness in the same place you lost it.”
I found this the other day, and it was a game changer for me. It’s not a Bible verse, but it spoke truth and freedom to my soul. This actually empowered me to let go of some old dreams I held onto for a long time. It FREED me.
If you’ve tried to go back and redo yesterday over and over and continue to be disappointed or hurt, it’s time to move forward. I know that may be easier said than done, but I’m praying for you to discover the freedom I found to let go and let God lead the new way. This includes how we will live our lives moving forward from this pandemic.
Good things can come out of bad. That is scriptural! Romans 8:28.
Scriptures and Prompts to help you Step into the New Direction, Not Backwards
Isaiah 43: 18-19
“Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.
Prompt: This is such a powerful scripture for moving forward. how many of us stay stuck reliving the past? But God says, “Move forward!” If you have trouble letting the past go, write it down in a journal. At the end of the entry, write a prayer for eyes to see what God is doing.
Isaiah 58:11
The LORD will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring.
Prompt: How do we stay watered? Let the Word water and feed you everyday. Talk with the Lord. Have conversations with Him. (That means you have to listen too.) Spend time with the Father every day.
Luke 9: 62
Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
Prompt: Jesus was clear, as a result, the disciple was told, “No looking back. Move forward. Leave the past behind.” Write down what you think that looks like for you.
Psalm 37: 3-6
Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.
Prompt: This portion of scripture holds wonderful promises, but it demands our part. Strong verbs admonish the reader. Trust, do good, dwell (settle down and live), and delight. Write a sentence after each verb that pertains to your life.
2 Corinthians 5: 17-18
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:
Prompt: The new creation is the human being filled with Holy Spirit. Once we’ve trusted in Jesus and asked Him to take up residence in us, we are not the same. We are forgiven and are given the message of forgiveness to share. What relationship or wound do you need to forgive and release? You can’t move forward until you do. Let Holy Spirit help you.
Here’s the printable! It’s free.
Let’s Study About Moving Forward Together
I hope you can join me this Wednesday night at 7:30 PM ET on Facebook. We will dig deeper into these scriptures and discuss ways we can move forward in relationships, dreams, and our walk with God. Just follow me on FB and hit the notification bell. And mosey over to YouTube and subscribe to my channel (and hit that notification bell) so you don’t miss any new teachings.
Let’s pray. “Dear Father, it feels like we’re stuck. We’re ready for life to get back to normal as it was before the pandemic, but help us move forward as you lead. Give us patience where we need to wait, boldness when we need to be brave, and ingenuity to move forward with new methods and ideas. You are doing a new thing. Help us see it. We love you. Amen.”
Hey friends! I joined a link party this week on Purposeful Faith, Kelly Balarie’s website. She has a great post on what we really need, and there are a ton of great posts on the link party. Check it out!
