John 4:11-12
The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.”
There are two related problems that can easily limit a seeker’s or a believer’s destiny, as the Samaritan Woman’s story illustrates. The first is Tradition, that is, the inherited patterns of thought, action, behaviour, or social custom. Typically, harmful traditions tend to hold us back and stifle our growth and creativity.
A similar problem is nostalgia. This is a sentiment of pleasure or sadness that is caused by remembering the past and wishing that you could experience it again. When you harbour such, your progress will be limited.
Like the Samaritan Woman, when you are always harping about the “good old days”, you are probably plagued with the burden of nostalgia. “Going down memory lane” is not always a good idea, beloved! When you’re resistant to change, you’re very likely afflicted with traditionalism.
Let not your history hamper your destiny. Don’t let the past abort your future. Don’t dwell on the past. Be teachable and flexible. Be willing to change. Embrace the fresh moves of God in your life. Expect a miracle. Look up.
“No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us” (Phi 3:13-14, NLT). That’s the way to go!
Pastor Josh