Weekly Devotional for Week of July 11, 2010 - Decide To Move Forward!

[Dr. Dorothy E. Hooks, PsyD]

Decide To Move Forward!

When I was worshipping the Lord I heard, “I make all things new” and then the song came to me. So, at the end of this devotional will be the video of the song, “Moving Forward” by Ricardo Sanchez; listen to the words of the song – they will bless you. I am declaring that I am “moving forward” and my past is over; I will never turn my back on God.

Although this was a private message from God to me, I want to share it with you to encourage you; God is no respecter of persons – He is telling you the same thing – He makes all things new in your life too.

I want to remind you: you are not responsible for saving yourself; Jesus already did that for you – He was the only one worthy to die on the cross for our sins. But you are responsible for, once you accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, renewing your mind with the Word of God so you will not be conformed to this world. Romans 12:1-2 says it like this:

“¹Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

²And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (www.biblegateway.com – New American Standard Bible [NASB] – all Scriptures quoted were taken from this source).

No matter where you are or where you have been, God “makes all things new!” Revelation 21:5 says, “And He who sits on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new’ And He said, ‘Write, for these words are faithful and true.’”

2 Corinthians 5:17 says: “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature (not going to be – we already are new creatures); the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

Isaiah 43:18 says: “Do not call to mind the former things (don’t sit around thinking of the past – my commentary), or ponder things of the past.”

Ephesians 4:23-24 says: ²³ “and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, ²⁴ and put on the new self which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”

Whose report are you going to believe? I myself, will believe the report of the Lord (the above Scriptures); especially God Himself speaking in Revelation 21:5.

Looking Forward: this is what God is going to do for the ones who accept Christ as their personal Lord and Savior according to Revelation 21:4: “and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” Praise be to God!

Get close to God now; before it is too late because Hebrews 12:27 let us know that the things which can be shaken (created things) must be removed before the things which cannot be shaken remain.

Keep your eyes forward and on God. Paul says it like this in Philippians 3:13-14: ¹³ “…I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴ I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us” (NLT).

If you would like to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior or if you would like to rededicate your life to God, say this prayer:

“Dear Jesus, 1 John 1:9 says if I confess my sins, You are faithful and just to for­give me of my sins and You would cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I confess my sins before You this day, ask­ing You to forgive me and come into my life and live Your life through me now. You also said Jesus, in John 14:26 that the Holy Spirit is our Comforter who will teach us all things, so I invite the Holy Spirit in to teach me the things of the Father. I thank you Father for wash­ing me in the precious blood of Jesus and giving me the gift of eternal life and the Holy Spirit to help me live my new life daily. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

If you prayed this prayer for the first time, welcome to the kingdom of God. If you rededicated your life back to God, welcome back to the kingdom of God. God bless you all and have a great week in the Lord.

Shalom,

Dr. Dorothy E. Hooks