I certainly don’t have everything figured out…..But occasionally I see God using what He is teaching me for others. I wonder if this might be for you today?

In Luke 18, Jesus has just told the disciples of His death and is on His way to Jerusalem when a blind man cries out to Him. (v 31-43)

Jesus looks at the blind man and asks, “What do you want Me to do for you?”(18:41)

The blind man ASKED to be healed and Jesus says “your faith has made you well”(18:42)

Shortly before this encounter, Jesus has told the parable of the persistent widow who repeatedly asked and asked. (18:1-8)

I’ve said this before, but it blows my mind, that our Father, truly sees us as His children. He loves us with a perfect love and He WANTS us to ask!

He wants to heal us and bless us with good things.

Not because we deserve it, but because His love is THAT REAL and that good.

But what should our response be?

It should be that of the blind man— after he is healed, he walks forward in faith to follow Christ and glorify God. (Luke 18:43)

But what does that look like? What does it look like to walk forward? Paul describes it so well.

And, let me say, these are some of the very verses God used and gave me to keep me walking forward after my first husband committed suicide when my boys were just one and three—

Phil 3:12-14 “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

After Rick took his life, I had to lay down things I didn’t like or understand that had happened in order to keep going. Maybe you do too?

Think about this—what if the blind man had been angry that God had allowed him to be blind for so long? He would have missed so much and his story certainly would not be told and used to build the faith of others

Instead of looking back- the blind man DELIBERATELY walked FORWARD following Christ — He focused on Christ and what He had done for him.

It was the same for me. I had to look up and look ahead after Rick died. To look back -other than to help those who have hurt as I had, was not beneficial; and I knew the enemy wanted me to stay stuck there.

I suspect the enemy wants you to stay stuck in your past—what you’ve done and what’s been done to you.

But to look ahead with a grateful heart for what has been done for us brings joy—so much joy.

IT still does.

In the moments the enemy tempts me to drown in yesterday’s pain, I remember God, my Father, my SAVIOR, is near and desires to bless me.

I remind myself of this over and over and wash my thoughts DAILY with the Word. I still do this.

“The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Rom 10:8-13)

There is no shame for God’s children-we are adopted as His Sons and He our Father who desires to bless us with good things.

We are to —
Look ahead.
Forget what is behind.
And follow Him.

And if you are having trouble doing that…. ASK! Ask like the persistent widow. Ask like the blind man. Ask! Ask the Father to help your unbelief! (Mark 9:24)

God loves you. His plans for you are all good. I believe He will use our hard roads to bring glory and advance His Kingdom when we walk forward!

Walk forward!

readLuke

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