FORGET THE PAST

by Tammy Phillips
October 18, 2021

“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,” (Philippians 3:13 NIV)

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV)

FORGET THE PAST

The old has gone and the new is here and now!  We cannot live in the past, live in the now, and step into our future all at the same time.  When we choose, and it is our choice to forget the past, we can live in the now and take steps forward into our future. 

We cannot live in the prison of our past and step out the open cell door into freedom.  It is one or the other.  How do we forget the past?

1. FORGIVE YOURSELF AND OTHERS

Are you holding onto memories, hurts, or betrayals from your past? Who has betrayed you?  Have you been unfaithful to God and to yourself?  Have you cheated on your best you with your worst you?   The truth is, unless we let it all go and shake it off, unless we  forgive ourselves and all others, until we leave the past in the past, we cannot move forward. OUCH!

FORGET THE PAST

No matter what mistakes we have, we cannot move forward unless we forgive  and forget the past. Our should be on our upward and onward calling. We lose precious time living in the past.

We make mistakes.  Our family and friends make mistakes.  We have been set free. We are  promised a future as long as we do not allow ourselves to be held  hostage and imprisoned in our pasts. Make a list of things your need to forgive yourself for and  people who you need to forgive. Literally, throw it to the Lord and do not pick it up again. Forgive yourself. Forgive others.

2. THINK DIFFERENT

Think about what you are thinking about.  The world says, “you are a loser and you cannot leave the past behind.”   The Word says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!” (Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV)

We either take  control of our thoughts and walk in the freedom Christ paid for or our thoughts take control of and imprison us.  We are responsible for our thoughts and no one else.     

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV)

FORGET THE PAST

We forgive ourselves and others.  We do not beat ourselves up nor others over things in the past.  We shake it off and “and strain toward what is ahead.”

3. CHANGE THE DAILY ROUTINE

We cannot do what we have always done in the past and expect change. We have to step into our future differently. Habits are hard to break, but not impossible.  We have to work to change.  

FORGET THE PAST

Choose one thing to change.  Set specific goals, big and small.  Start small.  Make a simple change-plan with attainable goals.  Take action and make the change.  For example:

Goal:  I want to drink more water daily. 
Change:  I don’t hope I will do it. I plan to do it.
Plan:

• Determine specific amount of water for the day, 80 ounces.
• Fill a large container with 80 ounces of water.
• Plan to drink a certain amount each hour. Drink 10 oz of water each hour.
• Carry a 10 oz cup. Fill and drink 10 oz. each hour
• Victory! Small goal attained! The past of not drinking water is left behind and defeated.

It is difficult to Change habits, but it’s possible.  All things are possible through Christ.

4. STEP TOWARD THE FUTURE

Taking small steps leads to extraordinary progress over time.  If we walk a mile today, we may be running a mile next week or walking three.  It does not matter.  Progress is progress.  We just have to take steps forward in any direction to leave the past behind.

FORGET THE PAST

5. FIND AN ENCOURAGEMENT TEAM

We should surround ourselves with a strong, supporting cast of encouragers.  Negative and pessimistic complainers  will bring us down and keep us in the past.  Encouragers will build us up.  They will cheer us up and out of our past. We can do the same for them.  They will tell us to…

FORGET THE PAST

The people we allow in  our lives affect our lives. If they try to tear us down, they are attempting to imprison us in their misery.  We need surround ourselves  with people who are going in the same resolute, new, direction. Building a tribe of people with similar goals can help us move on from the past and press forward into the life we have been called to live.

I enCOURAGE you to work on forgiveness.  Change your thinking.  Align it to the word of God.  If it is not a God thought, leave it behind. Change your daily routine, little by little.  Take small steps into the new.  Spend time with your people who encourage, support, and guide you to attain your high calling.  Leave behind impossible and step into the way, full of possibilities. Look to the future.  Look to Jesus the Author and Finisher of you. FORGET THE PAST and do not look back!

“I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and …” Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”” (Luke 9:61-62 NIV)