Don't Look Back! -- Part 1

Mothers of Nations, welcome to 2024 and all that this new year will offer us as women on assignment for the Kingdom of God! As each of us step into our new adventures with the Lord, I have some insights to share with you in this regard. I pray that these thoughts will minister to you as you let go of 2023 and move into the new seasons brought by 2024.

Let’s start by looking at Luke 9: 62 (AMP).  But Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back [to the things left behind] is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Jesus spent most of His time in the lower Galilee area, but one day He knew it was time to move on as destiny was awaiting Him.  He had been talking to the twelve disciples and was preparing them for their callings and their next seasons.  Here are some of the instructions and equipment that Jesus released to these who were ready to move forward in destiny.

• Jesus gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure sickness and diseases. (Luke 9: 1)
• He sent them out to preach the Kingdom and to cast out demons. (Luke 9: 2)
• Jesus said to not take anything with them – wallets, walking sticks, food, money – just go! (Luke 9: 3)
• He said that if they were received by others, it would be great. If not, they should shake the dust off their feet and move on. (Luke 9: 4-5)
• Jesus had the disciples experience feeding the crowd of 5,000 with five loaves and two fish. (Luke 9: 12-17)
• He asked the disciples who others thought Jesus was. (Luke 9: 18)
• Jesus told the twelve that if any man chose to follow Him, they would need to deny themselves. (Luke 9: 21-23)
• Jesus instructed that whoever was the least among others was the greatest. (Luke 9: 46-48)

Mothers of Nations, I believe that as we enter into this new year we need to remember our destiny is in the hands of God. He has given us His guidebook. Once we have decided to follow Jesus, there is no turning back. We surrender to His Lordship and don’t look back.

Let me now begin to share with you a few things that I believe we should not look back upon as we press forward into this new year’s assignments and destinies.

First of all, we cannot look back at our previous mistakes.  We all experience mistakes, misunderstandings, wrong actions, and wrong choices or judgments. The truth of the following verses reinforces this insight.

Isaiah 43: 18-19

18 Do not remember the former things, or ponder the things of the past. 19 Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing, now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even put a road in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.

Looking back at previous mistakes only leads to a mind filled with regrets and sorrow or a mind stuck in retrospect or nostalgia. Move on.

Secondly, we cannot look back at defeats or battles lost.  Life is full of ups and downs. Joshua had no time to mourn Moses’ death. He had to move on. The truth is that defeat teaches us and draws us closer to success.

Psalm 37: 23-24 (AMP)

23 The steps of a [good and righteous] man are directed and established by the Lord, and He delights in his way [and blesses his path]. 24 When he falls, he will not be hurled down, because the Lord is the One who holds his hand and sustains him.

Besides this encouragement from the Psalm, we also recognize the lesson that Samuel learned.  Samuel was told to stop mourning over Saul. Again, move on.

1 Samuel 16: 1

The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve for Saul, when I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have chosen a king for Myself among his sons.”

Next week we will look at a few more admonitions to move forward and not look back in order to fulfill our God-given destinies to the fullest.  I would encourage you to spend some time in prayer this week preparing your heart for this coming new year and all that the Lord has in store for you, Mother of Nations!

Dr. Sharon Predovich