Isaiah 43:2 ‘I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:’

DAILY READING – Mark 4:21-41; 2 Samuel 11-12; Daniel 6

The coat of arms of Australia, officially called the Commonwealth Coat of Arms, is the formal symbol of Australia. Pictured on it is a shield being held up by two animals native to Australia. These two animals are –the emu, a flightless bird, and the kangaroo. These animals were chosen because they share a characteristic that appealed to the Australian citizens. Both the emu and kangaroo can move only forward, not backward. The red kangaroo is the largest terrestrial mammal endemic to Australia and one of the most popular and well-known native Australian animals, but the kangaroo is prevented from moving in reverse by its large tail. While the emu is the second tallest bird in the world and the largest native bird in Australia, but its three-toed foot causes it to fall if it tries to go backwards, and so it can only go forward. These animals were thus chosen to symbolise Australia as a nation that is only moving forward, and never backward.

This can also describe the life of a believer. We are meant only to keep moving forward, and never backward.
Ephesians 6 lists the whole armour of God, that we should put on. You will note in this list of armour that there is no back plate and nothing to cover the back half of a Christian. The reason is because we are never meant to turn back and flee from the enemy. Rather our role is to keep going forward with the banner of Christ, advancing God’s kingdom, taking new territories and defeating the powers of darkness.
No armor in the back tells us we are not to retreat! We cannot flee from the devil rather the Bible tells us the devil must flee from us [James 4:7]
Furthermore Hebrews 10:38 – 39 says “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”
Therefore no matter how tough the battle we must keep pressing forward. Turning back can be a great temptation, especially when faced with great difficulty.
But Jesus said, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62).
Obstacles or resistance to our progress should never discourage us. Regardless of what comes your way, do not let any situation or circumstances limit or stop you.
Whenever you are faced with a challenge, trust God and know that it is only a phase. It too shall pass. Every problem, they say, has an expiry date. Life is in phases and seasons. Even if everything seems to be rising up against you, keep going forward. Always remember, that when God sends you, He goes with you. Therefore you are never alone.
In Isaiah 43:2 God says ‘I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:’
Indeed God is our way maker. He will go ahead of us to destroy the barriers to our progress. Especially in this month of March, we shall be marching forward into victory and dominion. It is indeed a new day, it is our season to see the rain of glory, and speedy manifestation of every good thing God has ordained for us in Jesus name.

PRAYER: Father please enable me to keep going forward despite any challenge I may face. Help me to always see that You are with me and indeed You can do exceedingly abundantly above all I could ever ask or imagine in Jesus Name.

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When you obey God’s instruction, you are delivered from destruction.
WORDBITE 222.