2 Thessalonians 3:3 English Standard Version (ESV) But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.

A right handed quarter back is most effective in throwing the football with his left foot forward and planting his right foot to throw. That places his back to the left side of the formation where he cannot see a blitz coming. His left guard has his back.

At times this scripture feels that way, that Jesus has our back. It is not true. Not in the sense of what Jesus has done in us. He says first; “I have established you.” If we do not know that as a reality of this relationship we have with Christ, we will always be looking over our shoulder assuming we are under attack.

Being established in Christ means we are secure from the presence and internal attacks of Satan. Satan has no part in the conversations which occur in our minds. The devil did not make us do it, the devil did not whisper in our ear. We do it to ourselves because we have not grasped that we are eternally secure in Christ.

Our mind is still flesh and it is we ourselves that remember the old man, the bad behavior, even the emotions that were attached to those times. Being a new creation in Christ does not erase our past, it only gives us a new future. This is why Paul encouraged us to look forward, to look up, and to keep our eyes on the prize.

Philippians 4:8 English Standard Version (ESV) Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Do not allow the past to steal the future.

Isaiah 40:31 English Standard Version (ESV) but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

When we read this passage what is it we focus upon the most? There is strength, wings, running, and walking. Those are all active realities. We achieve them by waiting on the Lord. What does waiting on the Lord look like?

The simple answer is to accept that Jesus Christ is the Lord of our lives. We as subjects should wait on orders to do the will of our Lord. There should be clear decisive orders to follow. If we are unsure of our orders we should wait for clarification before acting.

We lived a life that was based on doing what we wanted or what we thought right. We accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior when we discovered we were wrong. We ruined our lives with wrong choices and we need someone who knows the truth, who is Truth, to tell us what to do.

He loves us. He died to have us. Now that we belong to Him, He is the head, makes the decisions and tells us the right things to do.

As you read that did you hear in your mind, BUT?

That is our flesh. Our flesh questions. Our flesh does not want to give up the influence it has over our bodies.

Galatians 5:17 English Standard Version (RSV) For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

The only issue left is this issue of want. Do we want to obey our Lord or continue to make choices for ourselves based on influences of the flesh?

Our new heart, one changed by God, says obey our Lord.