A message shared by Pastor Nicholas Tsakis at Empower Christian Church, Sunday 28 March, 2010:
Moving forward - turning into a life of promise and challenge - takes more than a steering change. A bike rider, for example, needs to turn his/her head before making a turn. His posture
has to make a change before the change occurs.
In Isaiah 43:18-21, we read about forgetting old things, even earnestly moving forward from history. In summary, you cannot move forward if you dwell on the past. Also see, very importantly, that we are chosen, serving a God who is able to make all things new. He has your best interests in mind, wanting to do new things.
In verses 19 and 20, we read how He makes a way in the desert. He brings streams in the wasteland. God provided for the people even in their wasteland years. The people needed to posture themselves to receive blessing, food and provision. He loved them and cared for them, even though they kept looking to the past when they were captive. Today, He loves us too and does not want us to be backwards-looking, intimidated by what we see.
Own the promises. Don't just taste them
As you move forward, you will learn from the challenges you face rather than going back to the past.
In the wilderness, the people tasted the promises of God. Tasting is not possessing. Instead, we must own the promises of God.
Before moving...
Confront your true identity and recognise that the same God who makes those promises has big arms. Those arms are evidence of His caring and nurturing, towards calling us to a plan for the future. See Isaiah 40:26 and realise that our identity is found in Him. See also 1 Peter 2.
In your life today, there are possibilities and hope. Your identity is wrapped up in recognising His calling, His future for you, as you move forward.
In closing, be real about what holds you back. In fact, you cannot conquer what you don't confront and you cannot confront what you don't identify.
And when considering your posture, get into a place where you welcome and are prepared for greatness and blessing. Posture can be considered a position for the body that might not seem natural. It can cause a special effect by a change of posture.
Get your posture right, even when nobody is looking.
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