“Where Do You Live?”

 
 
forget the past
 
by Dona Hake
 
 
 
 
We all have yesterdays, and we all have pasts.   Some things in our pasts may be a delight to think upon, and then there are those grievous things that you have walked through that brought your heart down and robbed your joy.  I can remember my husband sharing in one of his sermons, “If you live in the past, you’ll have no current joy.”
 
 
 
 This is a very powerful statement, and it should cause you to consider where we are “living.” I think one of the saddest things is seeing people live in the pain of their past yet they have so much to be thankful for in the present moment. If you live in the past, even when there are good things going on around you, you may be hindered from even noticing them. The past has the ability to rob you of the good things that are in your life RIGHT NOW! We need to stop and purposely think of each and every good thing that God has blessed us with. If you allow your mind to dwell on bad memories of the past you will miss the joy of the moment.
 
 
 
 

Philippians 3:13 (TLB)

“No, dear brothers, I am still not all I should be, but I am bringing

all my energies to bear on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead…”

 
 
 
 

So I ask you today, “Where do you live?   In the past or in the present?”    I want to encourage you today that if you are constantly tempted to look over your shoulder into your past to stop! Stop and look at who you are today and how far God has brought you. Stop and think about every blessing you possess whether it be spiritual blessings, family, friends or material things. Let us not allow the wonderful joys in our present be robbed from us because we feel we are unable to go forward. Know this, God can heal you from the pain and scars of your past. He can give you hope for a future, and He can bring joy unspeakable into your heart and peace that passes all understanding that will permeate your mind. Enjoy the current joys that are around you and allow God to give you the strength to continue to move forward!