Forgetting What Is Behind

We all have a past.  We don’t have to have spent time in addiction or prison to know that there are things that have gone wrong in our lives for which we are responsible.

Some of us tend to focus on our past behaviour and the things we have done wrong. Others live in the “blame game” and have a list of people who should have done something to keep them from where they are today.

All sorts of emotions arise from that from anger to guilt to shame, sometimes even to an overwhelming degree. 

What we sometimes find the most difficult to get our heads around is that as we have felt the pain of injustice in our lives, to know we’ve been the source of that in the life of someone else, is tough.

And here we are today, in a new day that God is giving us.  God is also inviting us to shift our focus from past behaviour – either our own or that of others, to the forgiveness, healing and hope we can experience through the healing power of Jesus.  Here’s a great description of what that looks like.

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14

God wants us to have a satisfying life.  We all want that; who wouldn’t?  Or do we?  We know we have problems – we’ve had them for most of our lives.  Problems give us an excuse to think about using whatever we have chosen in the past to cover the pain deep within us. 

And so today’s important question is “Are we ready to stop allowing our problems to steal the new life God is giving us?”  If we are, we need to be willing to give up our obsessive thinking about how to cover our pain and allow the healing power of God to restore us to new life.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:2

Loving God, help us today to take our focus off our problems from the past and let You show us solutions.  We are willing to make the shift in our attention, our emotions, and in whatever ways You reveal to us.  

You are reaching out to us today, encouraging us to receive the healing You are offering, and which we desperately need. Help us let go of the past, to humbly surrender to Your plans for this day, and choose to walk in Your ways.  Amen

Let’s leave the past in the past and press on to all the good things God has planned for us today.