One Step Forward

One Step Forward

Every time I try to get a break
It's unlucky, find myself, center stage
When I think I'm on the right track
I take one step forward and two steps back
Every time I try to get ahead
There's lots a people that are being mislead
That is why what I'm wearing is black
I take one step forward and two steps back
I can't seem to find it, can't even see the trees
Am I hard pressed in the knees?
I struggle for this one, reach out for that
I take one step forward and two steps back

One step forward, two steps back.  Country Singers have a song for it.  Politicians in the Republican Party believe it to be true of their party right now.  The Urban Dictionary has slang for it and Hispanic culture even has a saying that states"Un paso adelante, dos pasos atrás."


The great prophet Jeremiah lived during the most crucial period of Judah's existence as a kingdom. He saw the destruction of Jerusalem and the holy Temple, after he had incessantly warned his people to mend their ways before it was too late. And when the catastrophe finally overwhelmed his people, he was the one who bitterly lamented Israel's terrible fate in the Book of (Lamentations) the anniversary of that catastrophe. At the same time, he proved to be a true friend in need, by helping his stricken people to bear the blow with courage and dignity, and by pointing out to them the path that would lead to restoration and redemption.

Jeremiah 17:7-10

Why Do People Take Two Steps Back?


1. Not Truly Saved (Repentance results in Life Change)

Thus says the LORD:  “Cursed (God himself issues a curse) is the man who trusts in man
and makes flesh his strength,[a] whose heart turns away from the LORD.  6 He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come.  He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.

An experince won't cut it if there are no actions behind it.  Many people have had experiences, but there has been no life change to prove the process.  We are always taking steps back in our walk until we turn to Christ and ask him to forgive us of our sins and surrender our lives to Him.


2. Sin in Your Life


9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick;  who can understand it?
10 “I the LORD search the heart

“After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: 'I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do'” (Acts 13:22).

And then he (David) allows sin in His life. We have all been there. It is a common occurrence to a saved man. God I will do whatever you want me to do, until that sin hits. Then God ask you to remove that sin because your heart is deceitful above all things and it is causing you to take two steps back, some of us three, some of has been walking backward in that sin for quite a while.

What do we do?  We repent and turn away from our sin.  When we do we plant ourselves by streams of living water and begin to take steps forward in our lives agian.


3. Lost Your Aim

7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD.  8 He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes,
for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

Our aim is to be like a tree planted by the water with roots that are sent out.  We are called to be sent out.  It is the reason that Jesus says "Go Therefore and Make Disciples."  When we lose our aim and purpose, we begin taking steps backward.  Today purpose to regain your aim and don't be anxious in the year of drought but continue to bear fruit.

Application:

Have you turned to the Lord?
Is there Sin in your Life?
Have you Lost your Aim?

Today take a step forward.  If you dont even have that kind of strength, stand.  And when you stand, He will stand with you.  And not only will He stand, He will help you move forward.