A very relatable book about not getting stuck by looking back and how to keep moving forward. Christine Caine starts with Lot's wife, who looked back and turned into a pillar of salt. Each chapter looks at the various ways we can look back and get stuck in our own lives and offers encouragement to keep moving forward. Caine tells stories from her own experience to illustrate her points along with Scripture to back them up. I really enjoyed this book and definitely see areas in my own life that I've been stuck to work on!

I think I officially enjoy Christine's speaking more than her books. While this had some great encouragement, not much of the book made a long-lasting impact on me. It feel more like a Christian form of a self-help book.

Don't Look Back is a reminder of Lot's wife, who out of the entire Bible only has two verses about her, but yet Jesus reminds us of her. Why? Because she looked back on what was lost and not ahead trusting in God. The book highlights God's powerful path He made for our lives. Moving forward out of the places we have gotten stuck. Moving forward when our plans seem to have crumbled beneath us. Was a timely read. I appreciate the ARC

Christine Caine has long been a hero of the faith for me - what she has pioneered for women has honestly been transformational. That being said, I have consumed a lot of her work, so I feel well versed with the material she delivers.

And this just might be the best book I have read by her. The story line, the practical steps, the questions interspersed throughout to engage the reader at a deeper level, all of it. The wisdom and maturity that Christine has gained as a result of the life she lives jump off the page for the reader to engage with.

I could not recommend this book enough. The message is both profound and timely, and I found myself savoring each chapter and doing the work to process through situations I experienced in my own life.

Where you look you will go
To follow Jesus we have to go where He is leading
However messy our life is, God can use us.
Using Lot’s wife as an example, Christine encourages us not to become stuck in the past, but to refocus and move forward with purpose with God’s help
Found the book easy to read and very encouraging and motivational.
Encouraging us to keep pressing on in our faith.
God is calling you forward, the only direction you were ever created to go.
Thanks @christinecaine @nelsonbooks & @netgalley for the eARC

I really enjoyed this book. The message about getting unstuck and moving forward is really timely. The stories that she told will tug at your heart while also challenging you. Highly recommend!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. This review is my own opinion

I was super excited to read this book. I’ve heard the author speak about Lot’s wife and it was excellent so I had high expectations. I was kinda surprised at the in passing nature in which Lot’s wife seemed to be mentioned in the book. I would have loved to hear more about it. There were some good points in the book but it wasn’t my favorite of hers. It lacked the punch that her books often have.
I received a digital copy from NetGalley. I was in no way required to write a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

A big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early review copy, all opinions are my own.

I love Christine Caine and I am a listener of her podcast, so I was so excited to get an early copy of her newest book, Don’t Look Back. I think I highlighted more than 90% of this incredible book. This is so needed in our time that we live in today. Always look forward, don’t look back! Remember Lot’s wife!!!

Classic Christine Caine back again! Don't Look Back is a reminder of Lot's wife, who out of the entire Bible only has two verses about her, but yet Jesus reminds us of her. Why? Because she looked back on what was lost and not ahead trusting in God. Not only that, but Christine guides us not only in moving ahead, but how to do so with passion and purpose, not in our own will, but God's powerful path He made for our lives. Moving forward out of the places we have gotten stuck. Moving forward when our plans seem to have crumbled beneath us. What an inspiration and motivation to just keep moving forward! Highly recommend!
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. This review is my own opinion*

I have been on the lookout for words of wisdom to help me stop ruminating over my past mistakes that often steal my peace of mind if not my joy. When I read the synopsis, I knew Christine Caine's latest book might hold some secret knowledge.

Christine uses the story of Lot's wife as a starting point for a discussion on how Christians become stuck in their pasts in her book, “Don’t Look Back: Getting Unstuck and Moving Forward with Passion and Purpose.” People tend to lose themselves in their past, which stymies their life's purposes. Out of an estimated 170 women in scripture, Christine said Lot’s wife is the one woman Jesus want us to remember. Now she explained for all the Bible students out there that Jesus did say we'd remember the actions of the women who poured out perfumed oil over Him, but it was the act of pouring expensive perfume that would be memorialized in scriptures. It is Lot’s wife, a cautionary tale, He would have us remember as we live the Christian life.

In Genesis 18, two angels attended the pre-incarnate Jesus as He met with Abraham. The Lord tells Abraham he will become a great nation in this passage. At the same time, He alerts him to another reason for coming to him. He said in verses 20-21, “…The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.” God wanted to destroy those cities, but Abraham spoke on behalf of any of the righteous people who are in that region. His nephew Lot and his family lived in this prosperous city.
God had richly blessed these cities, but the people had turned from Him in their sin and depravity. Abraham and the Lord came to an agreement that He would spare those cities for just 10 righteous people. The story continued in Genesis 19 with the two angels arriving at Sodom. Lot sat at the gate and met them. The angels had planned to spend the night in the town square, but Lot persuaded them to come to his home. The men of Sodom demanded that Lot send out the men (really angels) to have sex with them. Lot knew what these people were like, so he told them he’d send his virgin daughters out to the men in exchange. His daughters were engaged to be married, and yet Lot is willing to send them out to these vile men. The people of Sodom were past the point of no return.

The two angels told Lot, his wife, and daughters they must flee. They told Lot to gather the rest of their family and leave that place. Lot ran to tell his daughters' fiancés about the coming destruction, but they didn't believe him. They thought he was joking. At dawn, the angels tell Lot, “Take your wife and your two daughters who are here. Get out right now, or you will be swept away in the destruction of the city!” When Lot still hesitated, the angels seized his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters and rushed them to safety outside the city, for the Lord was merciful. When they were safely out of the city, one of the angels ordered, “Run for your lives! And don’t look back or stop anywhere in the valley! Escape to the mountains, or you will be swept away!”

Lot asked the angels if he and his family could run to a close, small town, and the angels agreed. They make it to this small village. They're in the clear. Then, Lot’s wife looked back toward Sodom as God destroyed it, and she became a pillar of salt.

Jesus talked about Lot's wife in Luke 17 while telling the people about the Kingdom of God. He warned that Christians needed to stay alert and prepared for His return. Life will look like it did in Noah’s day and in Lot’s day. And then Jesus said, in verse 32, the second shortest verse of the Bible: “Remember Lot’s wife!”

The story of Lot's wife is a powerful one, and yet Christine had never heard this unnamed woman mentioned at any conferences she spoke at or attended. She said Lot's wife had turned into a substance that preserved food in ancient Israel. Salt also is what Jesus used to explain how we are to behave in this world as ambassadors for Christ. Jesus said in verse 33, “Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it.”

Lot’s wife didn't want to lose the life she left. Christine had compassion for her. She said, like so many who have fled their homes, Lot's wife may have had plans for the future. She and Lot had made many memories in this once prosperous city. She no doubt had familiar routines and loved the home she created. Why was it so bad that she looked back? Christine said it's how Lot's wife looked back: “foolishly, longingly” on that wicked place. She disobeyed God.
Christine wrote this book during and after the pandemic. She found herself, like so many of us, comparing how things used to be with how things are now. She said we can let our feelings and emotions direct our paths if we’re not vigilant. We can stay stuck in reverse never moving forward. God wants us to rise up and move in faith knowing He hasn't changed. He will work His kingdom purposes through us.

Christine shared an amazing number of stories throughout this study, some personal and some shared by ministry members. She also shared several stories out of scripture. All of these people lived by faith and let God use what little they had to multiply those gifts. People like the widow of Zarephath who had a bit of flour and oil she used to make food for Elijah, even though she might not have a last meal for herself and for her son. God multiplied them. Rahab, then a prostitute, had used a simple cord of scarlet to save two Israelite spies. In faith, she trusted God and used the cord again, saving herself and her family’s lives. David, in faith, used five, small stones to kill Goliath. Finally, consider all those times Jesus proved His power to multiply the smallest things – the faith as small as a mustard seed, the lunch of a boy to feed 5000 people. They chose to obey God, and they set their eyes on eternity, not on their temporary circumstances.  

Christine reminded me that I need to fix my eyes on Jesus, "the author and perfector of my faith." He can help me stop looking back and start moving forward. I can pray and ask Him to help me move through grief, pain, illness, hardships, mistakes, heartbreak... pretty much every obstacle that impedes my path as I run to finish the race well.

Maybe like me, you’ve tried to move on from past mistakes, and you want a "do over." Me, too! I think of people in my past and how a younger Susan behaved. I feel like the enemy has these pieces of evidence he likes to dredge up to remind me who I was. "What must so-and-so think of you? They must hate you. How can you live with yourself?"

As these are things I can't change, I turn them over to God who forgave me long ago. I can't ask some of these people to forgive me because they are no longer in my life; however, I can pray for them. I can ask God to bless them. (I have asked Him for a chance to apologize to people in the future, so of course I'm waiting for that time as well.)

Christine Caine did not have an easy life before she founded a global ministry. She suffered abuse as a child. She learned she was adopted during a time of forced adoptions in Australia. God called her into the mission field and into specific ministries where she has teamed up to help so many people. She and her husband Nick founded A21 ministries, a non-profit, non-governmental organization that looks to put an end to human trafficking. She also started “Propel Women, an organization designed to empower and activate women in their passion, purpose, and potential.” Zoe Church Europe, still another ministry she help found, has lead pastors who reach people with the Gospel message in different countries, while also giving humanitarian aid. God definitely multiplied those gifts she and her husband gave back to Him.

Christine's book reminded me that no matter how messy my mess is, God can use it for His mission. He can multiply whatever I have to give. I need to rise up and press on through whatever obstacles life throws in my path. Just take one small step forward. No turning back. I don't want to become stuck in the past and hesitate to the point of procrastination. Christine's last section talked about Revelation, and the reasons we Christians need to stay focused on the task at hand, drawing people to Christ. I want to stay alert and ready for God's latest assignment because someone else's life depends on it.

This book is a classic Christine Cain book, with touching stories, a personal touch, and most of all making us to continually see God in a way we didn't before. I always feel refreshed after reading one of her books, she lights a fire for me in a different way each time and I am so thankful for that. The title "Don't Look Back," is based on the story of Lot's wife. Someone that before I would just pass by the story about, but now, I see a whole new outlook because of her. A couple of quotes that stood out to me from this book were:

"I din't want to look back. I want to remember Lot's wife and keep moving forward into the promises of God for my life..."

"What's more, to be clear, I'm not even asking you if you've been faithful at what you're doing, because faithfulness does not always equal fruitfulness. I can be faithful at something but not be fruitful, but I can't be fruitful at something without having been faithful."

"We have to risk believing and proclaiming the promises of God before we see the promises of God."

Lot's wife didn't trust God enough that her new life would be blessed, fruitful, and better than the one that she currently had. Cain says that it was disobedience to God for her to choose to look back, but she longed for something more than she longed for God. Because she wanted to preserve the past, God turned her into a pillar of salt, which is the very thing that is used to preserve things. She was lingering on what was, instead of what's to come. We are constantly wishing for more, never satisfied, and when we are asked to take a leap of faith and follow God's plan for our lives, we stop, we overthink, we are untrusting. If Jesus stopped at your house and asked you to leave every dollar, piece of clothing, home, car, job, family to follow him - would you do it no questions asked or would you hesitate?

I would definitely tell my friends to read this book!

Received an advanced readers copy (ARC) from NetGalley

Don't Look Back is a book that was written for the post pandemic times where our minds often linger to the past, to the old mindsets, to past relationships, to what was but is no longer. The Spirit of God is always forward moving and this book gives us a reminder of how looking back like Lot's wife can keep us from our calling and destiny.

Don't Look Back invites its readers to reflect on areas we are holding back. There is an invitation to slow down and reflect, as well as an encouragement to keep moving forward in the directional calling of God. Christine invites us to take an honest look at areas of comfort that may lead to disobedience. She shares her life story to raise the reader's awareness towards the various areas of our life we need to release (and pick up) in order to embrace the good works God has prepared for us.

This book is structured for self-reflection.
The repetitive invitation to remember Lot's wife in each chapter allows readers to reflect on areas of our life that we are preserving when God says go.
This book is a book of encouragement.
To keep pushing forward through the uncomfortable.

This book is a book of realignment back to God's heart. To remind us that the God of this universe loves us. If there have been failures or past detours, God can redeem all things if we choose to look forward and follow Him.

Don't Look Back can be read individually or in a small group. Reflection questions at the end of each chapter is helpful in directing the afterthoughts of this chapter and driving in deep discussion points if read as a group.

Don't Look Back by Christine Caine

Christine has done it again. What a beautifully inspiring book. Christine reminds us to stop looking back and move forward with Gods plan for our lives. "Remember Lots wife." Luke 17:32 - out of all the women referenced in scripture, she's the only one who God tell us to remember. How powerful is that?! We don't know her story, but we do know that when she was fleeing Sodom and Gomorrah, she was told not to look back, and she did the one thing she was asked not to do. She looked back and turned into a pillar of salt. Christine has an incredible way of pointing us to God and His plan for us, all while tying in scripture truths. I will be recommending this book to everyone!

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I am so thankful that I was given the chance to read this book as an early release. I had heard about Christine Caine---I have even heard her speak a time or two, but I had never had the chance to read one of her books.

I had no idea the day I downloaded her book, my world would change.

Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever."

This means those my world may change, my God does not.

Here are some powerful gems I learned from this book---I'm not just a candidate for God's love. No, I am the OBJECT of God's love.

I need to cultivate a SPIRITUAL growth mindset.

And, even though I have just been devastated by a swift and devastating loss, I do not want to get stuck thinking my best days are behind me and not ahead of me. God has so much to do show, so many ways to love me, and so many things to reveal to me even still.

I just finished caring for my mother on hospice, and losing her extremely quickly. One Tuesday she was fine and here. Two Tuesdays later, she was gone. But, this book showed me I don't have to keep looking back (yet it is okay to grieve.) But, rather, when you do hard things, (like preach the gospel message loud and clear at your momma's funeral) you can do other hard things, like continue to share the gospel day to day.

My heart hurts. My body hurts. And, as I am in my own fight with cancer cells, I'm not done. I will not be finished until I'm finished. And God gets that say. I will keep moving forward each day. A little step forward is still moving forward.

*My favorite parts of this book were strategies for moving forward and foes to spiritual growth. Both very impactful.

Christine Caine killed it again! I love her writing style and her knowledge on scripture. She always lights a fire under me to bring God back to the center and keep charging forward. 100% recommend this!