Looking Back

“You are not who you used to be. Look back to before.
You have grown, you have changed. You are becoming more and more.”
Loren Thornburg

I love those moments when you realize you are not who you used to be. You have grown and changed into someone greater and more free. Now that is reason to celebrate. Sometimes we miss these things in the day to day. We see ourselves and know ourselves every day and it can be hard to see the ways we have changed when they have happened little by little, one day at time. Often we are encouraged not to look back in fear of dwelling on past mistakes. However, it can be good to look back so we can see places of victory and growth that may go undetected and uncelebrated otherwise. Different events in our lives can serve as a natural way to look back. Birthdays, holidays, a new year, a new season or there might be places that we go every year that serve to do this as well. In these spaces we remember the time before and who we were and how we have grown and changed. These are reasons to celebrate. Don’t miss any chance to celebrate big or small. Look back to see. See how far you’ve come, the victories you’ve won, and the ways you’ve changed. Celebrate!

“But grow in grace (undeserved favor, spiritual strength) and recognition and knowledge and understanding of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…”
2 Peter 3:18 AMP

We are encouraged to grow, especially in knowing more of Jesus. This includes knowing more about Him, but expands into really KNOWING Him. Knowing Him means being more aware of His grace, understanding how He loves you with this undeserved favor and finding more of your strength in His spiritual strength. It is different from how many might identify growth. It doesn’t look like promotions, awards, or even financial increase. Instead it looks like freedom where you are free to receive grace, free to give grace and free to recognize Jesus as Lord and Savior. When we are truly seeking the Lord this is a byproduct. You don’t have to work at it because as you seek the Lord you come to know Him more and as you come to know Him you can’t help but be changed by His grace and freed by His grace. Can you see it? Look back. When you’re following Him you find more of Him and His grace. That is more than enough reason to celebrate!