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.