Article: Forget the past by Bosede Santos
Written by Sunny Unachi on 2nd January 2023
I don’t mean that I am exactly what God wants me to be. I have not yet reached that goal. But I continue trying to reach it and make it mine. That’s what Christ Jesus wants me to do. It is the reason he made me his. Brothers and sisters, I know that I still have a long way to go. But there is one thing I do: I forget what is in the past and try as hard as I can to reach the goal before me.I keep running hard toward the finish line to get the prize that is mine because God has called me through Christ Jesus to life up there in heaven.
Phil. 3:12-14ERV
May I start by wishing you an extraordinary 2023!
I believe with all my heart, God has amazing things in store for His children this year. This is the beginning of Him unveiling His children for the world to see who He is in and through us; remember, His goodness (kindness) leads people to repentance (Rom. 2:4). We’re about to see an unprecedented revival of souls. Exciting times!
At the start of every new year, we all have mixed emotions. We take stock of the year just gone past. “What could I have done better?” we query. “The opportunities I missed!” we lament.
But wait! Before sinking too deep in that murky water, Paul, the great Apostle Paul! Even he had his moments. Yet, he didn’t beat himself up. He said to continue trying to make the goal, the future ours; to forget the past and keep running towards the future.
A singer/songwriter, Fearless Soul, expressed the same thought beautifully, “Leave who you were. Love who you are. Look forward to who you will become. You know you are on the right track when you have no interest in looking back. You cannot grow unless you are willing to change. Sometimes, it takes an unbearable breakdown to have an undeniable breakthrough. It’s never too late to set a new goal, to dream a new dream. Nothing that has happened in the past can stop you from planning a magical future in your present. Let go of the past so you can create a better future, an amazing, abundant future.”
Run Forward!
Regrets, hurts, disappointments, fear, and shame are baggage from the past. They are redundant weight, which only slows us down or even altogether stops us in our tracks. We must break loose of these dead weights and run. Run forward towards our destiny. Our goal. The prize set before us. You never see a runner tie a cannonball around his ankle, do you? He sure will be going nowhere fast!
It’s the beginning of new opportunities and possibilities. So, run! Run with purpose because there is a prize to be won. Run with joy because there is a reward to be gained. Run with grace because God Himself is the One who wills to do of His good pleasure in and through you. He knows your limitations yet says He does not condemn you. His mercies towards you are renewed d-a-i-l-y.
Friend, albeit cliché, will you let go and let God?
YOUR RESPONSE
- Read the focus scripture over and make a list of the things you want to let go of. See yourself put them all in the Hands of Jesus and see Him holding your hand and walking into the New Year with you.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to show you how to daily empty yourself of dead weights so you can start each day in the liberty of God’s love.
Prayer:
Father, I ask You to help lay down the past, so it doesn’t hold me back or weigh me down. Help me remember that You hold my future and are leading me in Your plan for my expected end.In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
