Forgetting the past and looking ahead

 

 

“Brothers and sisters, I know that I have not yet reached that goal, but there is one thing I always do. Forgetting the past and straining toward what is ahead. I keep trying to reach the goal and get the prize for which God called me through Christ to the life above.” -Philippians 3:13

 

There is so much to be learned and uncovered in the sacred pages of God’s word. So much growth that lies in the words of those God had used for a mighty purpose. 

 

If we truly love God, we will want to grow and want to follow what He tells us. It may not always be easy, because life’s circumstances can knock us down, people can hurt us, but God never asks us to do something that we cannot do. It is possible to grow, to forgive, to have a changed heart, because anything is possible with God. (Matthew 19:26).  

 

We have to move past our flesh sometimes. Well,  a lot of times. We are human and the world tells us the opposite than what God tells us. That is why it is so crucial to stay close to God through the joys and the sorrows. He needs to be our true anchor in life.

 

I wanted to share what has been on my heart lately and what God has been showing me where I can find more freedom, if I grow in this area.

 

I have realized I have fought my past and not fully accepted it. 

 

More than anything, I wish I could have changed things. I wish I could have been “God” for certain situations. I have fought it so hard in my heart. I always find myself in the same state when triggers occur from the past. That I wish things were different. That I wish people would be different in my life.

 

I realized one night, how long I have been having those thoughts and I was sick of it.

 

It started to hit me..well I believe God planted those thoughts in my head, that until I finally accept what is and what isn’t, I wont find true freedom. 

 

I need to accept the past and what happened and the truth is, what happened, happened. 

 

I couldn’t control it or change it because it involved other people that made certain decisions that affected me. 

 

I couldn’t change it because people have their free will. But I trust God and have already seen good come out of it. And I know there is so much more good on the other side of this acceptance.

 

I do not want to live in the past either. The past is fun to look back on and reminisce about the happy times, but it becomes unhealthy and toxic when we constantly begin to set up camp there and talk about past failures and heartbreak. 

 

God is the wisest creator and Father in heaven we have. And I have seen first hand the verses in his word come to life and help me in times of need. I have seen God’s character come to life in my own life. His word rings true and is the most beautiful reality we have on this earth and beyond. I know I can trust Him and he wants us to have life abundantly, that is why he sent Jesus. He gives us all the wisdom and tools to reach abundant life if we just listen to Him and grow in Him and keep trying to live out what He tells us in his word. 

 

Paul’s words came into my mind when I was thinking about all this recently:

 

That we must continue to forget the past and strain toward what is ahead..

 

The present is a gift. It is where we must live and continue to forgive the past and move forward.

 

At the end of the day too, God gives us these beyond wise instructions because He loves us so much and wants us to feel freedom and have that abundant life he sacrificed to give us. We can trust what we feel beyond our flesh and follow the only truth and life, which is him.

 

It can definitely be hard but there is so much more joy in the present moment and it is better than to continue living in the past and rehashing the past. No growth happens like that. 

 

I really think it is just another way the enemy distracts us. He does not want us to live abundantly in Jesus so he makes us live in the past because he knows true freedom, growth and life do not live there. 

 

That is why it is so important to hold onto God closely and flood your mind with the truth, because I get it, it is easy to fall into bad mindsets and thought patterns. It is almost scary how subtle and easy it can happen, so we must stay connected to the word to combat the enemy’s schemes. 

 

Like it says in Peter 5:8-9 , “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”  We must be alert against the enemy and know what God wants and he does not want us living in the past. 

 

And if you are struggling with letting go of the past, we must seek wise counsel, through professionals that can help us with tools to work on it and grow. There is no shame in getting help, because it doesn’t mean you’re weak, it means you’re strong. Thinking we can get through all things in the world alone and our own thoughts alone, isn’t strong or wise, it is foolish. It is wise to seek the help of others. Whether a trusted mentor or a professional counselor.

 

We all have blind spots too, so we cannot always trust our own thoughts. Just thought I would add that in there because I was thinking how many people could actually find true freedom from their addictions and pasts and how many marriages that could have been saved, if pride was set aside and we accept with a humble heart that seeking professional, outside help, from a Christian perspective is such a wise thing to do. 

 

So, like Paul has said, I will continue to strain toward what is ahead and with grace, gentleness and acceptance when I see the past in my rear view mirror. I will continue to pray to keep focused on the present, learn what I need from the past and then with Gods help,  I finally can feel freedom from it. I  already have felt that on the horizon from just the mindset shift and I hope and pray that you can find that freedom too if you struggle with this.

 

All for Jesus,

 

Steph