By Richard Roberts
I believe God has a plan to move you forward into the greatest days you have ever experienced in Him. No matter what you may be facing today, God is a God of salvation, healing, and deliverance. He doesn’t want you to be stuck in hard times or buried beneath a load of trouble.
God is a good God! He wants to see you living free and victorious in Him. With His help, you can move forward in your health, your family, your finances, your relationship with Him, and every other area of your life.
Moving Forward Begins With a Decision Only You Can Make
There are two types of people in this world…those who are moving forward and those who are not. Jesus, our example of godly living, was always moving forward. He didn’t rest on past victories. He didn’t run from hard times. He faced life with boldness.
I believe that you and I are to have that same, strong determination to move forward in all God has for us, fulfilling His purpose for our lives, and doing it in the victory He has provided for us through Jesus.
First John 4:4 says, You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. Through Christ, God has made you an overcomer. You can rise above your circumstances. But you have to believe that. You have to act on it.
The only person who can make the decision to move you forward is you. God can’t choose it for you. You must choose it yourself. But when you do, He can help you move into a new freedom with Him.
Don’t Be Surprised When You Face Opposition
Ephesians 6:12 says, We do not wrestle against flesh and blood [people], but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age…
I believe, as you move forward in the Lord, you face opposition from the devil. Remember, the devil hates God, and he hates the children of God. He will try to steal from you, kill your dreams, and destroy the blessings God has given you.
But I have good news! Jesus defeated the devil through the Cross. The blood of Jesus beats the devil every time.
As a child of God, you have the Holy Spirit within you to help you defeat the devil’s tricks and strategies. You can succeed against difficult circumstances and overcome in hard times through the truth in God’s Word.
Leave the Past Behind
To move forward, you begin by letting go of things in your past that don’t help you focus on where you are going in life. This isn’t people; it’s things, situations or circumstances that pull you back into the tricks and strategies of the devil. I believe that’s why the apostle Paul talked about leaving things behind in Philippians 3:13–14:
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.
Paul had many things behind him—some good and some bad—but he didn’t dwell on the past. He constantly pressed ahead, as Jesus did. So I encourage you to follow Paul’s example, and refuse to stay comfortable where you are.
Fear Doesn’t Have to Hold You Back
We live in challenging times, with our world consumed by fear, worry, and troubles. I tell you this: I believe there is nothing happening in your life that God can’t handle as long as you are anchored in Him.
So, don’t let fear keep you from stepping into new victories in the Lord. Hebrews 13:5–6 says, For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear.”
When fear comes, remember that the Lord is with you. He isn’t abandoning you. He can help you, as He has promised in His Word.
Resist the temptation to let fear dominate your thinking and your actions. Instead, go to God boldly in prayer with your needs. Expect that He will give you good ideas, favor with others, and the answers you need.
As you focus on Him, the Bible says you can have a peace that passes all understanding, and guards your heart and mind through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7). This supernatural peace is not based on your circumstances. It’s an enduring peace that helps you press forward, no matter what comes against you.
Believe What God’s Word Says About Your Situation
Everything we choose to do starts as a thought in our mind. That’s why we must make sure our thoughts line up with what God says about the situations we face.
Let God give you a vision for where you are going in life. He has given you His Word to show you what He thinks about you and your future. As we renew our mind with His Word, we can look at our future as He does.
Don’t allow the world to mold your way of thinking. And don’t let circumstances dictate what you believe. Instead, determine that you will be transformed as you renew your mind…as you get rid of wrong beliefs, fears, and doubts by choosing to believe God’s truth (Romans 12:2).
Put Action to Your Faith
God sees you as an overcomer who can do all things through Christ who strengthens you (Philippians 4:13). But it’s important for you to see yourself that way as well.
You see, no matter what you can do through Christ, you won’t actually do it unless you start acting on your faith that allows you to do it. But here’s the good news: Your faith can propel you forward in any area of life (1 John 5:4).
As soon as you know what God’s Word says about your circumstances, it is up to you to act on it. You have to put action to your faith and do something to move forward.
Even if it seems like you have a long way to go, a journey begins as you put your feet on the road and start moving. So, take the steps you can take right now, and expect God to fulfill His promises to you.
Use Your Words as a Weapon
One powerful way to put action to your faith is to speak and pray God’s Word over your circumstances. Mark 11:22–23 tells you to speak to the mountains in your life and cast them into the sea with your words.
So, instead of going by what you see with your natural eye, keep speaking God’s Word over your circumstances.
Always remember, God’s Word has His life in it. It can bring life to dead situations and health to sick bodies…restore broken hearts and damaged relationships…bring about prosperity to those who have suffered loss… As you speak His Word over your life, you make a way for His power to shape the situation you are in.
Continue to Expect Your Harvest Until It Arrives
The Bible tells us that we inherit, or receive, the promises of God through faith and patience, working together (Hebrews 6:12). Patience doesn’t simply mean waiting. It means holding onto your faith and refusing to quit.
It’s important to hold onto God’s promises to you with confidence that He will do as He said.
Some things come quickly. Other things take time. Many things in life happen through the process of time. So, moving forward won’t always mean an instant miracle. That’s where Galatians 6:9 comes in and says, “Be not weary in your well doing, for you shall reap in due season if you faint not.”
You may have to keep pushing ahead for a while before you see all the results you are looking for. But as you take steps forward with God, you can be making your way toward the miracle that is waiting for you.
Determine in your heart that you are going to grow in Him! Decide today that you are going to learn more about His Word, and that you are going to be transformed even more into His likeness.
Let God lead you into a fresh season of miracles, filling your life with His power and abundance…so you can walk in victory over every issue of life that concerns you and your loved ones.
