Forget the Past

Philippians 3:13-14

“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.”

After I truly accepted the Father’s forgiveness, He began to show me the importance of forgiving myself, so that my past would stay in the past. That way, I could be unburdened of the guilt, shame, regret, remorse and embarrassment I had been carrying for so long. When I finally put my past behind me, I began to trust God one day at a time with my future.

Our past can keep us imprisoned even after we get released. We must decide to put the past in the past and leave it there. Paul emphasized how important it was by saying “one thing” – as if it is the most important thing. Then, as he forgets what is behind, he works hard at focusing on that day’s race, trusting God that He will take care of the future outcome.

God is omnipresent, that is, everywhere present all the time. If the enemy can keep us ashamed and regretful about our past, we cannot enjoy relationship in the present with our Father.

TODAY’S CHALLENGE:

Ask God the Father to help you get on with your new life in Christ. Allow the Holy Spirit to help you make the decision to bury your past.

Otherwise, your past will bury you.

Dive Deeper: Study Philippians 3:1 – 4:1.