Don’t Look Back

Place your thoughts on solutions. The past is gone; now move toward your goals. Self pity isn’t part of the equation. Nothing good comes from living horrible mental movies of the past. What is done is done. Rehearsing the problems only brings similar problems into your reality. Remember the Bible states, “so as a man thinketh so is he.” Simply reminding us that thoughts are potentials, therefore undoubtedly fear will produce what you fear. Many marriages are broken up because many have failed to understand that thoughts are potentials. When they spend hours in a day thinking that their spouse is being unfaithful, when it happens, they refuse to take some responsibility because we have not yet accepted that thoughts are potentials. For this reason, God gave us in his word, Philippians 4: 8, this scripture truly confirms that positive thinking is vital.

As we study this sermon, you will see people in the Bible that couldn’t afford to look back. Abraham is a great example, he had to leave his comfort zone and travel to an unfriendly place where his wife was taken hostage. He went through many trials, but he knew he couldn’t look back and murmur about what he left behind. The past could not help him. Just imagine he was in the desert, people dying all round him, trouble coming from every side. At this point, he had to remain focus on his goals and remain steadfast in prayer. After all, he had people depending on him for their survival, Abraham could not look back. Let us view his life and also other people in the Bible.

Abraham left his father’s house at 75 years old to a place he knew nothing about. All he had was God’s promise but he held on to God’s promise and he never looked back. Abraham experienced many things:

1.        Famine

2.       Death of his servant/there were constant fights and disagreement between Abraham’s workers and Lot’s workers

3.       Complaints of his people

4.      Battles on his hand

5.       His wife was taken

6.      God told him to sacrifice his son

Abraham never looked back and he set the foundation for his descendants to capture Canaan [Genesis 19:20- 26]. However, Lot’s wife looked back and became a pillar of salt which really meant that she regretted leaving her friends, valuables and others things behind she was leaving in body and not in her mind.

When we decide to follow Jesus, we must leave things of the world behind. You cannot tell yourselves you stop drinking and partying but you are home missing these things.

When you really decide to follow Jesus with your mind and body you will not miss the ways of the flesh. Things of the world should be a turn off. Jesus was always about his Father’s business. We should do the same.

If you must be around the ungodly stand firm on the word, and don’t look back! God’s words will help you not to look back. Don’t live your life based on emotions, live according to the rules of God!

Stephen never looked back [Act 7:54- 59]. Stephen was being stoned to death but he would never look back in thoughts, spirit or the flesh. He took his eyes off the circumstances.

Paul went through many tribulations but he never looked back and he became a famous apostle.

How do we look back?

1.        Leave the way of God and return to worldly living.

2.       Rebellion against what is right and doing what feels good to your emotions.

3.       Worry is looking back.

4.      Being fearful is looking back.

5.       Helping others then complaining in your mind.

6.      Desiring to return to the worldly pleasures you once enjoyed before becoming a child of God.

What Is Prayer?

Many people often wonder what prayer is. Some talk about prayer because they have heard this word all their lives. They really don’t know what the true meaning of prayer is. Prayer is communicating with the divine; it’s a method by which you talk to God. Prayer should come with focus, respect, and admiration for God. When you pray, you must understand the consciousness to which you’re praying. In this light you pay attention to the cleanliness of your mind. There is no way effective prayer can be done with an unclean conscious mind. You will notice I say conscious, because in most cases you are not aware of what is in the subconscious.

Effective prayer, is done only when you are in alignment with God. Your entire being should at least desire holiness and righteousness. This desire should be sincere and not just because you want something from God. You should also be aware, that the bible states, when the saints begin to pray the Lord should have his way. The Bible also states, the prayer of the righteous availed much and Psalm 34 makes it even clearer by stating, “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.” And Psalm 66 also states, “if I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.” For this reason many people pray, pray and pray and God just looks down at them, while they often ask themselves “why am I praying all the time and there’s no answer?”

Many of these people need to go back to the book of Joshua when he told the Israelites sanctify yourselves and God will great things among you? I speak from the point of experience, that is why I can write with conviction and boldness; because I had the spirit of unforgiveness and I had to get rid of that spirit for God to grant me divine favor. Again, effective prayer can only be done when you make up your mind to follow the teachings of Christ, not half way but all the way. Let us now view, what the Bible states about the importance of prayer.

When should you pray? The Bible states: Pray without ceasing. Bring everything to God in prayer; don’t give the devil a chance to make suggestion.

Why should you pray? Prayer could add years to your life, pray prevents hindrances and prayer hinders evil.

How should you pray? Ordinary things take ordinary prayer. Have a saint pray with you. Pray with a clean mind.

Where should you pray? You can pray anywhere but when you align with nature and pray early; the Bible suggest its better for you.

What should you pray about? A clean prayer depends on a clean mind. When you pray from an unclean mind God blocks out your prayer.

What is prayer?

1.        Prayer is communicating with God

2.       Keeping in touch with God

3.       Keeping out distractions, therefore you can hear from God.

1 Thessalonians 1:18→ Paul spoke of hindrance

1 Thessalonians 5:17→Pray without ceasing

1 Thessalonians 5:25→ Brethren pray for us

2 Thessalonians 3:1-3→ Paul praying for protection

Matthew 14:23→ Jesus went into the mountain to pray

Matthew 26:36-45→ Jesus prayed for strength three times using the same words. (Ex. Read Psalm 23 everyday)

Matthew 26:53→ Shows prayer as a request to God.

Mark 6:46→ Jesus departed into the mountains to pray.

Mark 11:24-26→ You can pray to get what you need but you must forgive.

Mark 13:18→ Pray to avoid hindrance

Mark 14:38→ Pray to avoid temptation

Luke 6:12→ Again, praying in nature (went into the mountain to pray)

James 13:18→ Prayer heals

The prayer of a righteous person can make a difference in your life.

Intro to Special Psalms by Sister Janet Lovell

Intro to Stress Release by Sister Janet Lovell