Leave Egypt Behind

Emotionally, some places can hold you captive long after you’ve left them. You step forward, but the past lingers, whispering familiar lies. “You can’t change.” “You aren’t valuable enough.” “It was easier back then.” If this resonates with you, stop it. When God calls you into something new, the pull of old habits, pains, fears, and comforts can deter you from the promise God has created for your future.

Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
– Isaiah 43:18-19 ESV

Israel knew this struggle. Even though God freed them from slavery in Egypt, their hearts often looked back. When the wilderness felt uncertain, they longed for the predictability of bondage. “We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic” (Numbers 11:5 ESV). They forgot the chains. They forgot the weight of oppression. They forgot that God promised them something better. How often do you do the same?

What “Egypt” is God calling you to leave? Maybe it’s a mindset that keeps you trapped in fear, a habit that numbs rather than nourishes, or an occupation that pulls you away from His voice. Sometimes, stepping into God’s promise means walking away from the familiar. And that’s not always easy. The wilderness between Egypt and the Promised Land can feel like an in-between place, but it’s where God reshapes you. It’s where trust is built, faith is strengthened, and the past loses its hold.

Lingering in the past keeps you from the blessings God has in store for you.

Don’t live chained to what God has already freed you from. He is doing something new. Your part is to stop looking over your shoulder and start walking in faith. The unknown can feel unsettling, but God is already there, making your way straight (Proverbs 3:5-6). Keep the past in the review mirror and keep your focus on God leading you forward.

You don’t belong in Egypt anymore. Let it go. Step into the life God has for you.

Today’s One Thing
Pray and declare, “God has set me free, and I will not return to what He has called me to leave behind. I trust His promises and step forward in faith.”

Go Deeper

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