Bible Ballistics: BBs #518 Looking Ahead With Confidence???

 

As we approach a new year ahead, let’s take a few minutes to assess our progress. It is helpful to look back and consider our successes and our failures, and while I’m not much on making “resolutions” for the New Year, I do think we can benefit from asking God to help us see where we can improve our walk with HIM! As we seek His face and the leadership of His precious Holy Spirit, we can press on faithfully. And while not dwelling on it, we can consider our past while we pursue the present that God is calling us to! But remember that the enemy will try to keep us focused on our failures, paralyzing us to going forward with Jesus—don’t listen to him! Paul gives us some good advice in this arena.

“Brethren,

I count not myself to have apprehended:

but this one thing I do,

forgetting those things

which are behind,

and reaching forth unto those things

which are before,

14 I press toward the mark

for the prize

of the high calling of God

in Christ Jesus.”   Philippians 3:13-14

We must accept the past as just that—passed! While our past will always affect our present and our future it doesn’t have to dictate our direction or paralyze us from serving our Lord! God has called us to be a reflection of HIS glory to a lost and dying world, and He will supply our every need as we walk forward in HIS service.

“But ye are a chosen generation,

a royal priesthood,

an holy nation,

a peculiar people;

that ye should shew forth the praises

of him who hath called you

out of darkness

into his marvellous light:

10 Which in time past were not a people,

but are now the people of God:

which had not obtained mercy,

but now have obtained mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9-10

When we receive the mercy of God, we are equipped for HIS service, by His power and might—so we can go forward in confidence regardless of our past, for it has “passed”.

“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord,

beseech you

that ye walk worthy

of the vocation

wherewith ye are called,”    Ephesians 4:1

We are His called, and He will accomplish His purpose in us as we yield to His Spirit, and walk in His strength, according to His Word and His grace. He is ever at work making us more like our Lord and Master, Jesus. You can take heart, for God is ever at work in and through His own.

“And we know

that all things work together for good

to them that love God,

to them who are the called

according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow,

he also did predestinate to be conformed

to the image of his Son,

that he might be the firstborn

among many brethren.

30 Moreover whom he did predestinate,

them he also called:

and whom he called,

them he also justified:

and whom he justified,

them he also glorified.

31 What shall we then say to these things?

If God be for us,

who can be against us?” Romans 8:28-31

I pray that you know HIM, and will commit yourself anew to yield to His working in you. He is your shepherd and His voice is ever leading you, and if you haven’t been listening—you can change that today!!!

“My sheep hear my voice,

and I know them,

and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life;

and they shall never perish,

neither shall any man pluck them

out of my hand.

29 My Father, which gave them me,

is greater than all;

and no man is able to pluck them

out of my Father’s hand.

30 I and my Father are one.” John 10:27-30

If you don’t know HIM—I pray that you will hear His voice and invite Him in to sit on the throne of your heart! He is calling—won’t you open the door today? I pray that God will make Himself real to YOU today, for as Jesus says:

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock:

if any man hear my voice, and open the door,

I will come in to him,

and will sup with him,

and he with me.”   Revelation 3:20