God Said Go Forward | Thankful Thursday

 The LORD impressed on my heart to carve out a section of my blog to share what I am thankful for. I started it on a Thursday and decided to call it "Thankful Thursday." Each week I share what I am thankful for. Come back each week so we can count our blessings together.

I am thankful for many things this year. God has kept our family safe. He has blessed us with jobs and my son likes his new school. I have so much to be thankful for. I never have a shortage of things to thank God for. 

Yesterday after work I drove to a little park outside of town with a creek beside it. It was nice and peaceful for a little while. I sure missed being able to drive to the ocean like I could do anytime in Alabama. It wasn't the same, but it was still a blessing. I am always drawn to the water.

I started reading my Bible and God began to share with me some things to encourage me. I am so thankful for that. Some people say they pick up the Bible and don't know what it means, have trouble with the words, and just don't know where to begin. I am thankful for time in God's Word. It encourages me and helps me... gives me guidance on what to do and how to conduct myself. I miss the mark but God's grace covers me and gently leads me back on the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. If you find reading the Bible difficult, I encourage you to pray and ask God to open the scriptures to you and He will do it!

I cannot look back to my life in Alabama and long for it; I am in the place God wants me. I cannot look back at my mistakes, because God has forgiven me and taught me to do better. I am thankful God urges me to move on with my life, just like He said to Moses and the children of Israel.

Exodus 14:13-15 (13)And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He shall shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. (14)The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. (15)And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto Me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:

I am thankful God says to us not to be afraid. We have to do something, stand and watch! We have to stand still and watch God deliver us and He will do it! He told the children of Israel that the enemy that had tormented them so long, would be obliterated and they would never see them again! What an incredible promise!

I am thankful God fights for us and we must hold our peace. It's not easy to remain silent when people say mean things, or falsely accuse us, but God doesn't want us to say anything. When we are silent, God begins to fight for us. He rushes to our defense and we do not have to say a thing. I have seen Him do that for me already this week!

I am thankful that God asked Moses, Why are you crying out to Me? Tell my people to move on, go forward... don't look back, don't cry about it. It's time to move! There's a time for crying and praying and asking God for something, but there's also a time to move! When we have stood in silence and watched Him deliver us and fight for us, then we need to go forward! We have to get out of the place He is setting us free from.

What areas has God been delivering you from? Addiction? Anger? Jealousy? Bitterness? Gossip? Manipulation? What has God fought on your behalf so that you can be victorious? What have you overcome? I am so thankful that He has helped me so much with many, many areas of my life. He still goes before me and fights my battles and He always wins! He never fails. He never loses. He never says, "Sorry, Bridgett! I am almost had that!" No!!! He never fails. He is always victorious and He always delivers me from the bondage I find myself in.

I used to compare myself to others and I didn't want what they had, but I started to feel like I didn't have value or worth. I felt bad about myself and I questioned all the decisions I had made. I started to wonder if God could ever use someone like me. Then I started reading the Bible to help others and it transformed my life. God took away bitter hurt and disappointment, unforgiveness, anger, and fear. He took my low self-esteem and changed the way I looked at myself by telling me what He saw in me. He showed me what I could do through Him and I got confidence. I learned to lean heavily on Him and every day I walk with Him gets sweeter and sweeter. Note, I did not say easier... but it is sweeter.

Yes, week after week, I have so much to be thankful for. I hope you will reflect on the goodness of God and remember what He has done for you. Have you thanked Him? Have you just sat at His feet and told Him how much He means to you and how grateful you are to be His? I don't do it enough. I love Him so much and I am so thankful for every single thing He does for me every moment of every day! He is so good to me!

God bless you!

~Bridgett Owens