Chained To The Past

Be made new in the attitude of your minds; and put on the new self (Ephesians 4:23-24).

Don't blame yourself for things that happened in the past. The danger is that mistakes, failures and defeats in your past can hamper your spiritual growth and rob you of the joy that God intended for you. Maybe you can recall the times when you allowed a worldly attitude or lack of enthusiasm to rob you of the highest calling of your life. Such memories can cast an unnecessary shadow over the present. If you keep on fretting about what might have been, you not only allow the excitement of the present to pass you by, but you also open the door for depression. Remember, the past is history, the future is a promise - the present is really all you have! A living, practical faith in Jesus Christ requires continual adjustments in your life. Your attitude towards life should alter all the time. Instead of always expecting the worst to happen, you must learn to accept that God only wants what is best for you. When you become spiritually sensitive, fear of the past and the future is replaced by faith and courage. Unwillingness to forgive is transformed into the will to forgive and forget. Your life undergoes a new, lively phase of growth and even your health improves. Always remember Paul's sound advice in Philippians 3:13: "But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead." Then your spirit will no longer be controlled by your failures from the past, but by the Holy Spirit. He will point out the wonderful opportunities around you. What a liberating experience!

Lord and loving God, I thank You for the past, I rejoice in the challenges of the present and trust in You for the unknown future. Amen.

Solly Ozrovech