Looking Ahead to 2021
January 2021 Blog
“Looking Ahead to 2021 through the Rearview Mirror”
Minister Cheryl Robertson
When this title came to me in prayer at the beginning of December, I got very curious about what the Lord was saying to me. Most of the times you hear the opposite—stop looking at the rearview mirror—look ahead. As I meditated and pondered in my heart what He was saying, I felt compelled to share what was said to me as it sure blessed me!
You know the saying ”Hindsight is 2020!” Well looking back at 2020 there are a lot of things we can talk about. However, the Lord asked me a question: “What will you take into 2021 and what do you need to leave behind? Looking in the rearview mirror!”
The purpose of the rearview mirror in driving is to help you to see what is behind you. However, if you were to drive only looking through the rearview mirror you would have a collision. The front window of the car is bigger than the rearview mirror serving to give us a full view of what is ahead of us versus what is behind.
I believe the Lord asked me that question because He wants me to give deep thought about what I am bringing into 2021 from 2020—I am not to be the same, and to look ahead to 2021 through His eyes. He doesn’t want me to have a collision tripping on the things that I needed to leave behind.
The scriptures in Isaiah 43:18-19 and Philippians 3:13 reads:
Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)
18“Forget the former things;do not dwell on the past.
19 See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.
Philippians 3:13
13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
My answer to His question is: I will take into 2021 a greater hunger and thirst for prayer and reading and study of the Word– I will remember the wonderful times of daily early morning prayer, worship and reading the scriptures and journaling what God said to me; I will remember how I trusted the Lord more; I will remember all of His many blessings and answer to my prayers; I will remember connecting with my family and friends on purpose; I will remember assembling together with my church family through the virtual messages and fellowships—remembering I am the Church! What I need to leave behind and will is: fears, doubts, concerns, worries, and not daily depending on Him!
What about you? The Lord asks you the same question. What will you take into 2021 and what do you need to leave behind?
In 2021 no matter what the year brings if we look for God we will find him! Jeremiah 29:13 (NLT) confirms it! “If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. Let’s look ahead to 2021 through the eyes of God!