Avoiding the Rearview Mirror

by Rick Warren

 

“Put your heart right, Job. Reach out to God .... Then face the world again, firm and courageous. Then all your troubles will fade from your memory, like floods that are past and remembered no more.” (Job 11:13, 15-16 GNT)

You can learn a lot by looking at your past. You’ve heard the saying, “Those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it.” That’s true — but it’s only part of the story. You can’t heal the most pervasive, costly wounds in your life by focusing only on your past. To defeat those giants, you’ll have to look ahead.
Too often we try to find healing by looking in our rearview mirrors. When we do that, we’re more likely to crash than heal.

In Job 11, God tells us clearly how to get rid of painful memories and move on with our lives. He says, “Put your heart right, Job. Reach out to God .... Then face the world again, firm and courageous. Then all your troubles will fade from your memory, like floods that are past and remembered no more” (Job 11:13, 15-16 GNT).

First, put your heart right. You do what’s right — no matter what the other person does. It’s always right to forgive those who’ve hurt you.

Second, reach out to God. Invite Jesus into every room in the house of your heart. Often, we’ve invited him into the front room (accepted Jesus as our Savior) — but not the bedroom, kitchen, or garage.

Third, face the world again. Don’t hide in a shell or withdraw so you don’t get hurt again. Move forward. Learn to live again.

Your past is not your future. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done, who you’ve done it with, or how long you’ve done it. Throughout Scripture, God forgives murderers, adulterers, and slackers, and he uses them to do his work in the world.

You, too, have a great future ahead of you. Put your heart right, reach out to God, and face the world again.
And then let God do something incredible through you.

Talk It Over
Why is it so easy to look at our past when trying to overcome pain?

Who do you need to forgive in order to “put your heart right”?

As you reach out to God for healing, into what rooms do you still need to invite Jesus?

In what ways do you “hide in a shell” as you deal with hurt in your life?

Thinking about My Purpose

POINT TO PONDER: It’s not about me.

VERSE TO REMEMBER: “Everything got started in him and finds its

purpose in him.” COLOSSIANS 1:16B MSG

QUESTION TO CONSIDER: In spite of all the advertising around me,

how can I remind myself that life is really about living for God,

not myself?

Focused on the Goal

Philippians 3:12-14 I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.

There are days when we feel we have it all together and some days that seem overwhelming and out of control. Every day that we are blessed with, we need to focus on what is ahead and not what happen yesterday or in the past.

Everything we been through has made us who we are no matter if it was all good or bad. Don't allow the enemy to remind you of who you use to be but you need to remind him who you are in Christ today. This walk is not easy and we need to take one day at time. Rejoice in the blessed day that God provided and ask Him to guide you thru it. Every day is precious and should be treated as if there is no tomorrow.

You not going to always get it right...or dot all your I's or cross all your T's. When you feel overwhelmed, remember the scripture which says, "The Lord will perfect that which concerns me." If you do what you can, God will take care of the rest.

Women's Release Is Back ON!!!!

Good afternoon lovely!!! I am super excited to announce Women's Release is back on!!! Moving forward Women's Release will be every 2nd and 4th Thursday at 8pm I will update the blog http://womensrelease.blogspot.com/?m=1 if there are any changes to that schedule! We will be meeting at the Broad Creek Community Center!!! God blessed us with a facility!!!! 1343 Herbert Collins Way Norfolk, VA 23504 Hope to see you this Thursday May 9 ! Be blessed!

Satan is Real

by Rick Warren

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12 NIV)

You have an enemy — and it’s not who you think it is. It isn’t the person you’re competing against at work. It isn’t the difficult neighbor. It isn’t your ex-spouse. It isn’t the group in your community who are taking unbiblical positions against you.

Your enemy isn’t flesh and blood at all.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12 NIV).

Your battle is with Satan.

One of the reasons we so often walk around in discouragement and defeat is because we don’t really understand who we’re battling. We don’t understand who our real enemy is. We blame the economy, a political party, a segment of people, or the person we can’t stand down the street.

We blame everyone but the one whom the Bible calls a thief and a liar who is out to destroy anyone who loves and follows Jesus.

To find victory in your life over what’s dragging you down, you’ve got to start by attacking the right enemy.
When you do, keep these truths in mind as you battle against your true enemy, Satan.

You’re no match for Satan. It’s like trying to shoot a rubber band at a battleship. Outside of Jesus, you have no hope of defeating Satan’s influence over your life.
Everyone gets used by Satan. Satan will put thoughts in the minds of Christians and non-Christians alike. At times we can all be a pawn of Satan. Protect yourself with the armor of God (see Ephesians 6:10-17).

Not everything that is spiritual is good. There’s spiritual light and spiritual darkness. Don’t fall for the lie that all roads to God are equal. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6 NIV).

Satan doesn’t fight fair. Satan can’t slug you, so instead he puts discouraging and depressing ideas into your mind. You’ve got to catch him in the act, let him know you know where the idea comes from, and ask Jesus for help.

Satan is real. He’s the enemy who has been disrupting your life. But there’s good news: He doesn’t have a chance against Jesus.


Talk It Over
- Who have you considered your enemy? What are the thoughts that have been in your head lately that you know are from Satan?
- What are you going to do to counterattack those thoughts and to guard your mind?
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The Battle You Were Born to Win

by Rick Warren


“The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4b NIV)
You were born into a battle. You didn’t ask for it. But before you were born and long after you die, a cosmic battle is taking place all throughout the universe. You can’t escape the battle between God and Satan, good and evil — even if you don’t know it exists.

Yet it’s important to know God and Satan are not equal enemies. God is far superior in all ways. One day God will completely wipe Satan out. But until then, he allows us to have a choice of whose side we’re on.
People are often pawns in this cosmic battle. Satan can’t hurt God. What do you do when you can't hurt someone? You hurt his children. So Satan goes after you.

The bad news is, you were born for a battle. But there’s good news. You were born to win the battle. The Bible says, “The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4b NIV).
Satan isn’t afraid of you. He is afraid of who is in you — God.

With the Holy Spirit in you, you don’t have to be afraid of Satan. You’re on the winning side of this war. Now live like it.


Talk It Over
- How will knowing the truth that you’re in a spiritual battle change the way you live?
- How will knowing the truth that you’re destined to win spiritual battles change the way you face your fears?