“Renewed Minds. Transformed Lives.”
It’s interesting to think about what it takes to move forward. If we are not careful, we will allow a negative outlook to stall us from the direction we need to go. I hope today to encourage someone that most movement of any kind is forward movement. While moving forward and moving up are pretty straightforward the outcome they produce, there are two other movements that can cause us grief if we don’t open our minds to what they mean beyond man’s natural view:
Moving on – the definition – “to go or cause to leave somewhere, especially because one is causing an obstruction”- lends itself to the notion that the “person” or “persons” being asked to do so are the reason for the unpleasant situation or circumstance, So many times women have been encouraged to pick up the pieces and “move on” after some type of offense or violation. Sadly, this directive has had added implications of “sweeping things under the rug” with the accusations hurled at the victim while the perpetrator is left standing proudly or maybe even prowessly as he searches for his next victim to prey on to repeat the vicious cycle. The encouragement today is simple- “they” are right if for the wrong reasons. You must move on. Moving on is for you, my dear sister. It’s just your stepping stone toward your healing. Pride will tempt you to think that you are losing and better yet that the perpetrator wins but none of that is yours to worry about. Our great God sees and knows all. He knows every fact of your situation-from beginning to end. He’s got your back. Trust the process of moving on so that you aren’t stagnant, oppressed, or depressed any longer.
Just about every version of Philippians 3:14- says “I press ON toward. Perhaps if you allow your mind to be open to the other side of “on”, you will be okay with “pressing” or “moving”. You have the ability to write the remainder of the sentence: “toward something better for me”, “toward what God has for me”, “toward a better future”, “toward a relationship that glorifies God!”-The options for how you end your sentence are plentiful. Remember that the blessings of God maketh rich and addeth no sorrow (Prov 10:22) and recognize that you are not where God wants you to be and that getting there will require you to “press” or “move” on. (Philippians 3:12). Trust the process and know that moving on is forward movement!
Moving back- the definition- “to pull back, move away or backward” – particularly the notion of the enemy withdrawing, lends itself to the notion that our enemy wins when we “move back.” Reality is that most times we live when we recognize that the enemy is gaining on us and perhaps because of limited resources we move back. Winning the war is better than being victorious in every battle. After all, every battle is not ours to fight. The expeditionist Shackleford, while just a short distance from where he would make history turned back with his team. What he realized was with the resources they had, they could make it to their destination and receive the fame but they would never make it back home alive. That’s a true leader. Even in a checkers game, you sometimes must move back in order to “jump your opponent”.
Picture this, “moving back” is not “turning back.” Moving back says, “I still have my eye on what’s before me but the timing is not right. Let me keep my focus, my attention, my posture on what’s before me but let me slowly step back and recognize that in the bigger scheme of things, I win (or at least remain alive) by moving back. Trust the process and know that moving back is forward movement!
God is a great and mighty God! I really can’t imagine a life without a loving relationship with Him. His ways and thoughts are not like ours and He has a plan much bigger than our little minds could ever fully comprehend. Whether straight forward, up, on or back, recognize that all of these movements are forward movements in God’s great plan for you. “The righteous keep moving forward, and those with clean hands become stronger and stronger.” (Job 17:9) With the Word of God doing the work in your life, wipe your hands clean and “Keep it Moving”. Discern which way is right for you in this season and do what you gotta do!