Hebrews 11:15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.

What you think about has a way of affecting the direction of your life. What you focus on has an effect on the trajectory of your life. Hebrews reminds us that if you focus on the things in your past, the enemy will always make sure you have an opportunity to return. As believers we must always be forward-focused on the promises and the destiny God has given us.

Today I want to share with you three principles for moving forward.

1. Don’t let the familiar trump your faith.
Faith always calls you into unknown territory. Faith beckons you to leave the comfort of what you know and venture out into places and activities that require trust in God. The journey often gets uncomfortable. When you feel the pressure of what is uncomfortable you begin to dream about familiar things. It is very common to see people settle for familiar things that are destructive rather than to step into life-giving things that require faith. Don’t let the familiar trump your faith. The life change you desire is on the other side of the uncomfortable and unfamiliar surroundings.

2. Don’t let fear paralyze your faith.
Moving forward into the unknown will always present you with obstacles you’ve never seen, trouble you’ve never experienced, and giants you’ve never faced. Someone once said “You should not be afraid if your faith leads you to a field where a giant is present. You should be fearful if there is no giant. If that is the case, you may be in the wrong field.”
Don’t let the fear of the immediate obstacle keep you from trusting God for His better future.
Isaiah 41:10 reminds you, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

3. Don’t let forgotten miracles limit your faith.
If you have been serving God for a number of years, the truth is that you have seen God do many miracles for you and for others many times. The problems is that you always let the immediate challenge blind you to your past deliverances. There are more forgotten miracles in your past than there are challenges in your present. You must keep moving forward by recounting all the ways that God has worked in your life before and realize that He can do those things and even greater things in your life today. John 14:26 says, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”

Today’s Challenge: Recognize that there will always be challenges in moving forward. The destination is worth the journey. Don’t let fear, the familiar, or your limited ability keep you from moving forward. God intently calls us to places and activities that require His help so that we can discover Him in new and increasing ways.