Isaiah 43:18 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on
the past.”
Living in the past is a sure fire way to spoil the
present and sabotage the future. As human beings, we are both blessed and
cursed with powerful memories. Some of them are really good and cause us to be cheerfully
nostalgic. Other remembrances are very painful and can sometimes be unhealthy.
Letting go of the past is something that God calls us to
do. It’s not easy to accomplish, but neither is lumbering a lot of baggage
which weighs us down emotionally, spiritually, and even physically.
God urges us to forget former things and not dwell on the
past. His Son Jesus died painfully on the Cross, but God does not dwell on that
terrible moment. Instead, He looks forward to the brightness of an eternal
future where we will abide in His Kingdom and enjoy His everlasting love. This
is why God wants us to let go of the past – so that we can look ahead to our
future with Jesus.
Questions
for reflection
What am I still carrying as a burden from the past? Am
I willing to let it go and allow God to grant me a better present, as well as a
brighter future?
Prayer: Lord
Jesus, You are our Savior; please save us from ourselves. Release us from the
past and guide us to a hopeful future. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
John Stuart is the pastor
of Erin Presbyterian Church in
Knoxville, Tennessee. Please feel free to share this email with family
& friends.
Today’s image is one of
John’s Creation drawings called “Let There be Light.” If you would like to view
a larger version, please click on this link: Creation.
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