(You can’t start the next chapter of your life
if you keep reading
the last one.)
Occasionally, we will pick up a book to read
and it is so good that we can’t wait to get to the next chapter or even the
end. However, if you skip to the next
chapter or to the end of the book before completely reading the previous
chapters, you will be confused because of the unread material you skipped over. Sometimes there are chapters you keep going
back to read because the material was interesting, good, or unbelievable; thus,
preventing you from moving on to find out what awaits in the next chapter or
even completing the book. Sadly, this kind
of behavior is often displayed when dealing with relationships and life.
Many are stuck in a place and are unable to
move forward, wondering what God is doing and why He hasn’t blessed them or even
answered their prayers. This is often true for those individuals who are
looking to be blessed with a mate, wondering why the Lord has not blessed them
with their Boaz or Ruth. It’s not that
God doesn’t hear your prayers or see your situation, rather you won’t let the
previous chapter stay closed so that the new one can be opened. Your
body is in the present, but your thoughts and emotions are still in the
past. (for whenever our heart
condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 1 John
3:20 ESV)
When we are constantly looking back at “what
was” and dwelling on things of the past, we fail to see clearly what’s in front
of us, and our sight becomes cloudy to what awaits us in the future. Too often God wants to bless us but we are
not ready nor in positon to receive what He has for us. If God were to bless you with your Boaz or
Ruth and you are still opening, still looking back, still reading, and still emotionally
attached to a past chapter in your life that should be closed, you will be
unable to give the next chapter in your life what it deserves. Some, because of
the actions of others in a previous life chapter, will continue to operate as
if they were still living in the past chapter by punishing individuals or guarding
themselves from fully giving their all in the new chapter in their life. It is
not fair to anyone, especially the man or woman who God is blessing you with, to
have him/her live in the shadow of a chapter from your past. You are holding up
your own blessings until you completely close the previous chapter.
Closing a previous chapter in one’s life may
be harder for some, and this is often because complete healing has not taken
place. This is not a process that has to
be rushed or has a time limit on it, but you also don’t want this to be a
situation you are prolonging, preventing you from healing and moving forward in
life. If this is the case, then allow God to fully heal you so that you can
keep that chapter closed and be in position when your blessing(s) arrive. (He heals the brokenhearted and binds up
their wounds. Psalms 147:3) Allow God to restore your soul and your joy
so that you can leap into all that awaits you.
This is necessary no matter the type of relationship that may have
caused you pain, i.e. a friendship, sibling relationship, parental relationship,
and/or a work relationship. Each will
require the chapter to be closed so that you can begin the next one.
There may be situations where pain was not a part of your
previous chapter, but if you are still opening, reading, and comparing the old
chapter to the new chapter in your life, it’s still hindering you from any
blessings you are waiting to receive. If you are comparing an old boss to your
new boss, an old friendship to a new friendship, or a past relationship to a
new relationship, you will come up short every time. If both chapters are the same, then you are
just reading again and reliving the same thing, and are unable to see growth,
change, or whatever awaits you in the future. Don’t miss out on your
blessing(s), or short yourself by continuing to reopen a previous chapter
unless, reopening a previous chapter in your life will be used as a testimony to
edify or encourage others by sharing what God has done for you, while giving
Him the glory. (My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of
your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge.
With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come; I will remind them
of your righteousness, yours alone. O God, from my youth you have taught me,
and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O
God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your
power to all those to come. Psalm 71:15-18 ESV)
Life is like a book. Some chapters are happy, some are sad, and some are exciting, but if you never turn the page, you will
never know what the next chapter has in store for you. You can’t start the next chapter of your life
if you keep reading the last one. Close that chapter so that you can move
forward and see what awaits you.
Be Encouraged!
