SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1143

“Past is Past”

Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Say not, “Why were the former days better than these? For it is not from wisdom that you ask this. – Isaiah 43:18– Ecclesiastes 7:10

Do you live with regret about your past?

Are you reluctant to enter into new relationships or to move forward with your life because of your past hurtful experiences?

Do you have reservations about what the future holds because of fears born from the past?

We have all played the ‘Woulda, shoulda, coulda’ mind game about our past decisions. It is water under the bridge. Thoughts about what we would have done, should have done, or could have done serve only to paralyze and stifle our present and future. We need to learn the lesson and move on.

But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 3:13-14

Some of us dwell on past hurts to point of breeding bitterness and unforgiveness. Remember Jesus’ teaching about the parable of the prodigal son. Focus on the father of that son – how he waited and watched ready to forgive and welcome him home. The father chose not to dwell on or remember the offense from the past.

…while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. – Luke 15:20

Remember from the Book of Genesis what was done to Joseph by his brothers and the ordeal Joseph endured as a slave and prisoner in Egypt as a result of their actions. Remember what Joseph said to his brothers years later when he was in a position to help his family.

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. – Genesis 50:20

We have to trust and believe in the truth of the Word of God that even past offenses and trials will be worked together for our good and the good of others.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28

The enemy seeks to get us to dwell on our past sins in order to steal our joy in Jesus.

For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more…as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. – Hebrews 8:12 – Psalm 103:10-12

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. – 2 Corinthians 5:17

Embrace today and what the Lord has planned for your tomorrow. Leave the past in the past.

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. – Psalm 118:24

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. – Jeremiah 29:11