Genesis 19:24-26 NIV
“Then the Lord rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the Lord out of the heavens. Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, destroying all those living in the cities—and also the vegetation in the land. But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.”
INSIGHT
–Look in Greek is written as emblepó which means to gaze upon. Back in Greek is written as palin which means to return. The amalgamation of the two words then reflects the message of lack of focus. In Psychological studies, lack of focus may stem from stress, anxiety, sleep deprivation, drug use, stroke, anaemia, head injury, dementia, poor nutrition, frustration, fear, inclination to the past or low self worth. In theological studies, looking back means lack of faith or turning way from one’s faith in God. When Lot and his family were saved from destruction at Sodom and Gomorra, his wife lost focus, she looked back and became a pillar of salt. Her lack of faith and inclination to the past led to her becoming a mast of salt. When one lacks focus in life, ceases from prayer and giving thanks, the enemy slowly creeps into their lives and persuades them to look back. The result is loss in one’s vision, dreams, aspirations and potential death. We are called to put our faith and focus on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, and we shall surely accomplish God’s divine purposes in our lives.
PRAYER
Abba Father our Father, we thank You for You are Good and Your mercies endures forever. You are Faithful and awesome. Your promises to us are yes and amen. We declare shall not die but we shall live to declare Your goodness Oh Lord. We shall not look back and turn into pillars of salt but we shall look forward and achieve the purposes and receive the blessings that You have in store for us. Jesus Christ You are the Author and Finisher of our faith, may You help us to always focus on You. May You forgive us for the times we have looked back in life and not focused on You truly. May You cleanse us from all unrighteousness and renew our strength in You. As we begin a new week may You lead us in realigning our desires with Your will. Help us Father, to focus on what You called us to do and strengthen us when we are weak. May Your peace be upon us always, our families and nation dear Lord Jesus. We give You all the honour and praise, and it in Jesus name we pray. Amen
Further reading: Hebrews 12:1-2
Hebrews 10:36-39 NKJV
“For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: “For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.”
INSIGHT
-These scriptures emphasize that righteousness and salvation are attained through faith, not by adherence to the law or works. We are called to endure on and gain the promise of God. We are cautioned from drawing back into the old traditions and laws but develop as stronger relation with God through our faith in Jesus Christ, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
PRAYER
We thank You Abba Father for the rains. Thank You for watering our land. Thank You the blessings that You have bestowed unto us. May You bless our land and make us productive in every way throughout the year. May You strengthen our faith and help us to keep our eyes on You always. May You save those who do not know You and acknowledge You as our Lord and Savior. Release Your true salvation to all our family members, our nation and all people dear Lord Jesus. May Your name be exulted by all creation and all people dear Lord Jesus. May You silence every voice that rises against us and is contrary to Your will. Be at the centre of all that concerns us dear Lord Jesus. We worship You Lord and give You praise, and it is Jesus mighty name we pray. Amen
Further reading: Habakkuk 2:4
Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV
“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? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
INSIGHT
-Judah is called upon to forget when she struggled to be a nation among the nations (1 Samuel 8:5-20). God was doing a new thing for His people, delivering from the captivity and culminating to their return. In Philippians 3:13-14 apostle Paul reveals a message of hope to the believers in Philippi, that he chooses to forget those things which are behind and reaches forward to those things which are ahead. The Lord is surely making a stream of water in the wasteland and a way in the desert. We are called to focus on the destiny and price that the Lord has set before us in Christ Jesus.
PRAYER
Dear Lord Jesus You are the Light of the world. You are the Light that dispels all darkness, we magnify Your holy name. May You remove every form of evil and darkness from our hearts, families, churches, communities and nation. We declare that corruption and theft of public funds shall not be part of our nation and government any more. We declare that Your righteousness and justice shall always prevail upon our nation and leadership. May Your righteousness and justice reign upon us dear Almighty God. May You heal all those who are sick and suffering among us, that by Your stripes we are healed. May You shepherd us in the divine purposes that You have designed for us dear Jesus. May You make a way even where there seems to be no way. Our Father who art in heaven; hallowed be Your name; Your Kingdom come; Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptations but deliver us from evil; for thine is the Kingdom the power and the glory; forever and ever. Amen
Further reading: Revelation 21:5
Luke 9:62 NKJV
“But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
INSIGHT
–Jesus teaches using the Imagery of a farmer or plower to signify a task or commitment to God’s work in His kingdom. These parable emphasizes on the need for unwavering focus in following God and commitment to His purposes entrusted unto us. The parable also reminds us that we should not allow distractions that come to dissuade us from God and His purposes for looking back to the old life makes us unsuitable for His kingdom.
PRAYER
We extol You O Lord, for You have drawn us up and have not let our foes rejoice over us. O Lord our God, we cried to You for help, and You have healed us. O Lord You have restored us to life from among those who go down to the pit. We sing praises to You Lord and give thanks to Your holy name. Your anger is but for a moment but Your favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night but joy comes with the morning. We thank You Lord Jesus for releasing the joy of Your salvation unto us. You are the One who has made us and we are the sheep of Your pasture dear Lord Jesus. May You shepherd us in Your ways and the light of Your salvation that we will not lower the guard by looking back but we will follow You relentlessly and do Your will by Your divine enablement. May You fill us afresh precious Holy Spirit that we may only look to You and do Your purposes. May You deliver all the street families and bless them merciful Savior for You are close to the broken hearted and You save those who are crushed in spirit. May You save us Oh Lord. May You save our children merciful Savior. May You save us precious Holy Spirit. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us now and forever more. Amen
Further reading: Psalm 34:18, Galatians 2:20-21
2 Peter 2:20-22 NKJV
“For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”
INSIGHT
–These scriptures warns against the danger of falling away from faith after experiencing the grace of Christ. They highlight that returning to old sins is worse than never having known Christ, using the imagery of a dog returning to its vomit and a pig returning to the mire.
SUMMARY
Looking back is a theme that often symbolizes dwelling on the past. The wife of Lot who looked back after destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and she became a pillars salt (Genesis 19:24-26). The Lord is not pleased with anyone who draws back to perdition, but the just shall live by faith (Hebrews 10:36-39). Jesus says that, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). God is calling us to forget the former things for He is doing a new thing. For He is making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:18-19).
PRAYER
We thank You dear Lord Jesus for Your mercies never cease, they are new every morning. Thank You for You are great and greatly to be praise. You are the One who we praise, You are the One who we exult and adore. May You help us dear Lord Jesus to always focus on You and never to look back. May You grant Your true salvation to us and all people dear merciful Savior. Lord may You do exceedingly abundantly more than we can ask of or think of according to the power that is at work in us. Lord we trust in You and exalt You. We believe that You are able to do more than we can think of or imagine. We believe that we shall be extremely fruitful since we abide in You and You in us. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives and we shall dwell in Your house forever. May You bless us and keep us loving Father, may You shine Your face upon us and be gracious to us. May You lift up Your countenance towards us and give us peace. Amen
Blessed Weekend
Further reading: Galatians 2:20-21