His father described him as down-to-earth, generous, kindhearted, life-loving, and unselfish.
Maybe that’s why so many people were shocked when Australian-born actor Heath Ledger died of a prescription drug overdose. Before his death, Ledger was reportedly fighting an addiction to heroin.
We all struggle with habitual cravings—food, gambling, and porn are just a few of the things that can enslave us. Fortunately, God can free us, as surely as He released the Israelites from slave status in Egypt. But once He sets us free, He wants us to move forward.
A short time after the Israelites left Egypt, they developed an attitude. “Back in Egypt . . . we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted” (Exodus 16:3), they whined. Shaky circumstances led them to idealize the “good ol’ days.” But that kind of backward thinking sabotages our efforts to move forward, following “the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives” (Galatians 5:25).
God wants us to keep taking steps of faith—believing that He will provide what we need each day. When the Israelites realized that their new zip code didn’t include any grocery stores, God said, No biggie. I’ll send some manna their way—”as much food as they need for that day” (Exodus 16:4). Similarly, we should live one day at a time, trusting God to provide an escape route from our selfish desires. God “will not allow the temptation to be more than [we] can stand” (1 Corinthians 10:13). When we’re tempted, He will show us a way out.
If God has shown you the escape hatch, don’t look back. Don’t “let sin control the way you live” (Romans 6:12). Instead, walk forward each day, trusting that “you will see the glory of the Lord” on your journey through the wilderness (Exodus 16:7).
More:
• Jeremiah 30:8
• Romans 8:2
• 1 John 5:3-5
Next:
If God has freed you from an addiction, how can you walk forward? Why is it important to follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives?
pjack4 on August 27, 2009 at 6:16 am
Thank you for this days lesson, I often look back to how life was for me in certain situations. and I know that my faith has kept me going in these trying times. I need to live day by day knowing God will provide for each day.But I often worry about the days ahead as if I could change them. I pray that God will help me live as he wants me too,not worrying,about tomorrow.
P
Chevee on August 27, 2009 at 8:36 am
Thank you for today’s message it is very useful to me. I have to put past things behind me. Galations 5:25 will be my motto from now on. I have to move forward, God has freed me from my past. I pray that I will live as God want me to live, from day to day. From now on I will be walking forward and not looking back , each time this feeling hits me I will remember Galations 5:25.
Nvrgvup on August 27, 2009 at 11:55 am
Jennifer, thank you for your “walk fwd” message (8/27/’09). Indeed encouraging me to move fwd and put all worry, anxiety, doubt and future in font of His feet. Amen
jennifer benson schuldt on August 28, 2009 at 2:10 pm
I’m glad this helped. I think many of us struggle with addiction in varying degrees–sometimes we don’t even see it as an addiction. It’s that thing that we’ve gotta have…sugar, coffee (yikes), the next relationship, etc. We keep coming back for more and before long, that thing has power over us when the Holy Spirit ought be in charge. Praise the Lord that He will set us free if we confess it and then walk forward.