“Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes”

• Memories – we all have them!•Good ones & not so good ones

• Events – an indelible effect•Characters & Personalities•Circumstances

• What’s past is past• It can’t be changed now – only the way it is perceived• The only thing we can do with the past is learn from it

Don’t look back – not!

“We may not be able to see into the future but we do have 20/20 hindsight”

“If only I could have known then what I know now” “If only I could know now what I knew then”• Old age or selective amnesia • Rose-coloured spectacles or

dark sunglasses

Don’t look back – not!

Is it Biblical to look back? Altars, Memorials & Festivals

tangible reminder to God’s people of their history and values

reflect what God has done for themAfter a while the people of Joshua’s generation died, and the next generation did not know the Lord or any of the things he had done for Israel

(Judges 2:10 CEV)

4 Big Questions What have I heard? What have I learned? What have I implemented into my

life as a result? What difference is it making to

way I live and the impact/influence I have on others?

Personal Accountability AuditWhat have I

heard?What have I

learned?What have I

implemented?What has resulted?

Is it Biblical to look back?“Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits”

(Psalm 103:2 NIVUK)“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”

(Isaiah 43:18-19a NIVUK)

Motivation“Whatever makes us do whatever we do”

MotivationWhatever makes us do whatever we do Previous experience and past

history Present situation and available

resources Potential opportunities and

future expectations

Decision-making processes“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 103:2 NIVUK)“Keep company with God, get in on the best” (The Message)“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’” (Isaiah 30:21 NIVUK)

• Fear of failure• It may not work• Lack of confidence• Never done it before• What others may think• Too much on my plate already• Other people will be better than

me

Potential Roadblockers

• In PRAISE – remember and be thankful

• In PRAYER– ask and it will be given• In our God-given PURPOSE – step out

in faithIf our present is determined by what we did in the past, our future is determined

by what we do today

Don’t hold back!