PROGRESS

They go from strength to strength; every one of them appears before God in Zion – Psalm 84:7

The Blessing of the Lord brings Progress; it defeats stagnation. Progress is advancement or forward movement; improvement or development in the life or affairs of an individual, group of people or organization. It may be: a programme or project going as scheduled; improvement in a student’s perfromance; an employee rising in career; a believer growing in grace; or a minister increasing in circles of impact. God programmed you for progress (Psa.84:7). Divine progress is your possible portion in Christ. But, you must be able to evaluate your pace, without getting discouraged or feeling condemned. Can you look at how far you still have to go, yet be able to appreciate and celebrate how far you have come? Remember, we are changed "from glory to glory" (2Cor.3:18b). Spiritual growth happens by degrees. Small steps accumulate into giant leaps. Ponder on these and be provoked to progress in life:

• Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. But David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker (2Sam. 3:1).

• Yet the righteous will hold to his way, and he who has clean hands will be stronger and stronger (Job 17:9)

• But the path of the just is as the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day (Pro. 4:18).

God wants you to move forward and make progress in life. Facing the challenge of the Red Sea, He commanded Moses: “…Tell the children of Israel to GO FORWARD” (Exo.14:15b). No barrier can stop divine Purpose; yet Progress does not preclude pressures. Indeed, the greatest progress could come from the deepest pain. The cross preceded the crown; the crucifixion, the resurrection; the tomb, the triumph. Sometimes the way up in down. God doesn’t always rescue us from pressure but strengthens us through it.

You can’t make progress looking backward! God says, “Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert” (Isa.43:18-19). The road and rivers symbolize movement – progress into the future. Paul declared: “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil.3:13-14). Please press toward the mark!

You also can’t make progress when you’re facing the wrong way. Only when you focus in the right direction will you move in the right direction. You cannot make progress vacillating between opinions. Progress demands focus: “Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil” (Pro.4:25-27). Desist from looking over your shoulder, comparing your pace or progress with others.

God’s Presence, more than anything else, is your Power for Progress: “But you shall receive Power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). That’s a picture of ever-increasing progress. God told Jacob: “And behold, I am with you, and I will keep you in all places where you go…” (Gen. 28:15). God’s presence was the guarantee of progress in his future. His Presence protected, preserved, and empowered Jacob to be on the GO! The same Divine Presence will empower your Progress in life! It’s time to Progress and Move Forward!