I am so thankful for a good memory. It’s very important to me to remember the past. From those memories I draw encouragement for the present and hope for the future. The last few days I have been recounting the events of five years ago; that’s when we left Montana and came back to Arizona.
What an answer to prayer!
We said good bye to some very dear friends and we started our journey. We didn’t get far on our first day but the first steps were taken and that’s what was important. Each day we take steps in following the Lord. Each day, each step brings us closer to Him.
Sometimes we end up walking a new ground without the familiar love and support we have known. It’s in those “alone” times that we deepen in our relationship with the Father and listen more intently for the voice of the Holy Spirit as He gives us direction.
“The Lord is my shepherd. I will always have everything I need. 2 He gives me green pastures to lie in. He leads me by calm pools of water. 3 He restores my strength. He leads me on right paths to show that he is good. 4 Even if I walk through a valley as dark as the grave, I will not be afraid of any danger, because you are with me.” Psalm 23:1-4 ERV
Forward progress doesn’t always come in great distances covered. More often it comes from moment by moment, hour by hour, mile by mile forward movement in developing who we are in Christ. It’s important to stop and rest – to come aside, to be refreshed and then to pick up and begin again, faithfully following and moving forward in what the Lord has called us to do today.
Five years ago, we were excited about our move to AZ, we were joined on our journey by our son Koy and his girlfriend Kym. They met us in Salt Lake City and helped us complete the drive and the unpack at our new home. We so appreciated that, it’s good to have help for difficult chores.
You may not know the exact destination on your journey, you might be like the Apostle Paul who wrote these words of encouragement:
“I don’t mean that I am exactly what God wants me to be. I have not yet reached that goal. But I continue trying to reach it and make it mine. That’s what Christ Jesus wants me to do. It is the reason he made me his. 13 Brothers and sisters, I know that I still have a long way to go. But there is one thing I do: I forget what is in the past and try as hard as I can to reach the goal before me. 14 I keep running hard toward the finish line to get the prize that is mine because God has called me through Christ Jesus to life up there in heaven. 15 All of us who have grown to be spiritually mature should think this way too. And if there is any of this that you don’t agree with, God will make it clear to you. 16 But we should continue following the truth we already have.” Philippians 3:12-16 ERV
Let memories of your past bring you hope and encouragement. The Father will never abandon us!