THE RAVEN: HEAVEN’S DESPATCH RIDER PART 12 — BECOMING A RAVEN FOR OTHERS (FINAL LAP)

Image
THE RAVEN: HEAVEN’S DESPATCH RIDER PART 12 — BECOMING A RAVEN FOR OTHERS (FINAL LAP) 1 Kings 17:4–6 “And I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there… And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening… ” In Part 11, we discovered that God still uses people as despatch riders of destiny. We learned that: some people are assigned carriers of divine help, not every encounter is random, God often delivers provision through relationships, and discernment is needed to recognize divine assignments in people. The key lesson was: Heaven often sends people as part of your survival system. Now the story turns inward. We are no longer only looking at the raven as a carrier for Elijah. We are now asking: Can I become a raven for someone else? Because the same God who once assigned ravens to feed a prophet still assigns people today to carry help, hope, and provision. This is the final maturity of the message: not only receiving divine help, but becoming...
Post a Comment

WHEN FOLLOWING JESUS COSTS EVERYTHING PART 4: LOOKING BACK WHILE MOVING FORWARD

WHEN FOLLOWING JESUS COSTS EVERYTHING

PART 4: LOOKING BACK WHILE MOVING FORWARD


Luke 9:61–62 (NIV)

Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” Jesus Christ replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”


In Part 3, we uncovered the danger of delayed obedience through the phrase “first let me…”. We learned that even good responsibilities can become excuses, and that trying to secure a backup plan before obeying God often reveals divided loyalty. True discipleship requires immediate and undivided response.


Key Phrase

“...and looks back…”


Opening Thought 

It is possible to be moving forward physically, yet remain attached emotionally. Many people start the journey with Jesus, but their hearts are still tied to what they left behind. In the Kingdom, direction matters—but so does focus.


Insight 🔍

This man sounded willing:

“I will follow you, Lord…”

But again, there was a condition:

“…but first…”

Unlike the previous man who delayed for the future, this one was holding onto the past.

At face value, saying goodbye to family seems harmless. But Jesus Christ discerned something deeper:

A lingering attachment

A divided heart

A reluctance to fully detach

So Jesus responded:

“No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back…”


Understanding The Plow Principle 🌾

In ancient farming:

A farmer must fix his eyes forward

Looking back creates crooked lines

Crooked lines ruin the harvest

So Jesus was saying:

“You cannot move forward effectively if your focus is still behind you.”


Biblical Warning: Looking Back Can Cost You 

The story of Lot’s wife gives us a serious warning.

She was:

Brought out of destruction

Given a chance for a new beginning

Clearly instructed not to look back

Yet she looked back—and was turned into a pillar of salt.

Why?

Because her body left Sodom, but her heart was still in it.


Deeper Application 🔥

Looking back is not just remembrance—it can become entanglement. Sometimes, the danger is not just your past—but comparison with others.

You all started together:

in ministry

in business

in life

But now it feels like:

others are ahead

others are progressing faster

others are getting results you expected

And if not guarded, looking back—or even looking sideways—can produce:

covetousness

discouragement

even compromise and corruption

You may begin to think:

“Maybe I took the wrong path…”

“Maybe I should have done it their way…”

“Maybe I need to adjust my values to catch up…”


Powerful Truth 💡

Looking back can pull you into what God already delivered you from. And unhealthy comparison can corrupt what God is building in you.


Balanced Clarity ⚖️

This does not mean you ignore people’s progress. It means you stay aligned with God’s process for your life. Even Elisha removed his past by burning his plow—he eliminated every option of going back.

The issue is not awareness—It is attachment and misalignment.


Real-life Reflection 🧭

Many people are:

physically moving forward, but emotionally stuck in comparison. And slowly, they begin to:

compromise values

adjust standards

chase results outside God’s will

All because they kept looking back—or looking around—without grace.


Spiritual Lesson 📖

This passage teaches us that:

Looking back can lead to spiritual stagnation or destruction. Comparison can corrupt your calling if not guided by grace. True discipleship requires forward focus and trust in God’s timing.


Reflection Questions 🤔

What am I still looking back at that God has called me to leave behind?

Am I comparing my journey with others in a way that affects my obedience?

Is there any area where I feel tempted to compromise just to “catch up”?


Prayer 🙏

Lord Jesus, Help me to keep my focus on You and not on my past or others around me. Deliver me from every attachment that pulls me backward and from every comparison that corrupts my heart. Teach me to trust Your timing and remain faithful to Your process for my life. Amen.


Call To Action ✍️

Guard your heart today. Limit any comparison that is affecting your peace or obedience, and refocus on what God has specifically called you to do.


Next In The Series

Part 5: No Turning Back

In our next episode, we will see that, following Jesus Christ is not just about starting—it is about continuing without retreat. Stay Tuned!

God is speaking, are you listening?




Prince Julius Nenebi-Darkson 

(EL-PJ God's penman)


Comments

Post a Comment

We’d love to hear your thoughts! Share your reflections, testimonies, or questions below. Let’s grow together in faith!

Popular posts from this blog

WHEN THE ROBE COMES OFF: HONORING THE HUMANITY OF GOD’S SERVANTS PART 7: FINAL LAP: STANDING IN THE GAP — THE URGENCY OF INTERCESSION

Image
WHEN THE ROBE COMES OFF: HONORING THE HUMANITY OF GOD’S SERVANTS PART 7: FINAL LAP: STANDING IN THE GAP — THE URGENCY OF INTERCESSION  1 Kings 19:4 Ezekiel 22:30 “I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the sake of the land, that I would not destroy it, but I found no one [not even one].” (AMP) Becoming Watchmen Over God’s Servants Recap of Part 6: Yesterday, we exposed the reality that some ministers are hiding secret sins—not because they don’t love God, but because they don’t feel safe to confess. We were reminded to pray, not punish, and to cover, not cancel. Heaven is still searching. God is still looking. Not for another preacher. Not for another platform. But for a gap stander. An intercessor. A spiritual defender of those who are too exhausted to pray for themselves. Throughout this devotional, we've uncovered the hidden battles of pastors and ministers—the emotional lows, the secret temptations, the heavy loneliness, t...
Read more

THE GREAT WALL: WHEN WALLS FAIL PART 2 — THE ENEMY AT THE GATE: STRONG WALLS, WEAK WATCHMEN

Image
THE GREAT WALL: WHEN WALLS FAIL PART 2 — THE ENEMY AT THE GATE: STRONG WALLS, WEAK WATCHMEN In Part 1, we saw that walls do not fail because they are weak; they fail when the gates are compromised. Even the mighty Great Wall of China, built with stones, sweat, and sacrifice, could not stop an enemy when its gatekeepers failed. True strength lies not in the wall itself, but in the vigilance and integrity of those who guard it. Now in Part 2, we explore how weak watchmen at the gate can undo even the strongest defenses. Every wall has two sides: the builders who raise it and the watchmen who guard it. A wall can be tall, thick, ancient, and mighty…but if the hearts of its watchmen grow tired, distracted, or compromised, the enemy does not need strength — just an opportunity. The Great Wall teaches us this: Strength is useless without vigilance. Protection is fragile without attention. A boundary is only as safe as the person standing at the gate. Let’s journey deeper. THE STORY — Part 2 ...
Read more

WHEN FOLLOWING JESUS COSTS EVERYTHING PART 7: WHAT IS YOUR “ONE THING”?

Image
WHEN FOLLOWING JESUS COSTS EVERYTHING PART 7: WHAT IS YOUR “ONE THING”? Luke 18:22 (NIV) When Jesus Christ heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing…” In Part 6, we encountered the rich young ruler—a man who was disciplined, moral, and sincere, yet walked away from Jesus Christ because of one thing he could not surrender. He was close to Jesus—but not surrendered to Him. Opening Thought 🌅 Sometimes, the greatest barrier between you and your next level in God is not many things—it is just one thing. Not obvious. Not loud. But deeply rooted. Key Phrase “ You still lack one thing …” Insight 🔍 This statement is both simple and profound. It means: You can be doing many things right… and still miss one thing. You can be progressing… and still be held back. You can be committed… and still be divided. The rich young ruler didn’t lack discipline. He lacked surrender in one area. And that one thing became everything. Deeper Application 🔥 Your “ one thing ” may not be money—but ...
Read more