Driving in the Rear-View Mirror

Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, "This day is sacred to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep." For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

The Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Be still, for this is a sacred day. Do not grieve."

Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them.

Nehemiah 8:9-12

This scripture took place during a time when the Israelites were beaten down already. They had come out of the Babylonian exile and returned to a desolate land that was once fruitful. The land was being rebuilt and Ezra began to read from the Book of the Law of Moses, the LORD's commands for Israel. The people broke down, grieving. I'm sure a lot of it was sadness for how they were so disobedient and also for many others who fell because of their transgressions. God put the Israelites through so much... rightly deserved for their lack of faith and disciplines. But in these verses God is encouraging the people, basically saying that today is new & holy; time to rejoice and move forward. He's saying to be encouraged and obedient to His ways because He's not going to dwell on the past, He has a future for the Israelites. We need to remember this when we've fallen. We need to draw upon God's strength to move forward and not grieve over our past.

I need to listen to this. I tend to kick myself down and focus on all the negative parts of my past. I sometimes live in regret, thinking what if I did this or that? What if I made this choice instead? It can drive me nuts... if fact in some ways I'm doing it today. Where did my disobedience or lack of faith play into the situation I'm in right now? I'm very analytical and I can split atoms over and over when it comes to my life. But God is saying this, fix my eyes on Him no matter what happened because He's a Father who cares about my future. I understand that I need to draw upon the lessons that I've learned in the past to serve as spiritual post-its as I look toward the future. God wants the best for His children, I need to want the same.

Heavenly Father, thank You for looking out for me when I don't want to do it for myself. I get stuck looking in my rear-view mirror instead of the pavement before me. So many warning signs and markers are missed because I don't live my life following rules, only regretting my choices. I pray LORD that I take my faults and strongholds and place them at the Holy feet of Jesus. I also pray this for all my brothers and sisters, that they will be able to observe today as sacred & holy, worthy of our best. In the precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ I pray, amen.