Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.
The Holy Spirit gave us this thought a long time ago, about letting stuff go, or forgetting it, in order to reach forward to the next thing He has for us. Paul had signed papers to murder people but he knew he had to forget those terrible things if he wanted to move forward and do what God wanted.
When we hold on to the past, whether it is it's glories or it's regrets, we clutter ourselves up so that there is little room for the good God has stored up for us in the future. But when we forget any resentment, unforgiveness or bitterness, there is then room for blessing and peace. When we give our sad, bad or disturbing memories to the Lord He will wash away their sting and heal those places of hurt but if we hang on to them, constantly replaying them, they will remain and block our future.
Maybe it's none of those but we're holding on to the familiar because it's comfortable so we find it hard to reach out for the new and unknown, but that is what God wants for his people.
Although God Himself never changes, yet He is a God of freshness and newness, the God of 'Behold I do a new thing', new mercies, new favour that opens up doors, new blessings above and beyond so we can bless others. He wants to open our eyes to new visions, new hopes and aspirations to see through His eyes. It's hard to do that when we are bogged down with past failures or negative experiences or even 'those were wonderful days in the past' memories which tempt us to think it can't be better in the future.
If we stubbornly refuse to let things go then it's very difficult to reach forward but if we trust Him and say I want something fresh and new so help me Lord to let go of what hinders me, then we open up our hearts to Him for His good plan and purpose.
God does not want our past to have a strong hold on us. He wants our future to have a strong hold on us pulling us ever forward.
Lord help us to reach forward with You and forget anything that holds us back. Amen.
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