sooo, it’s just one of those days…when satan keeps reminding me of my past and failures that have occurred in my life…things that i have chosen to do, instead of choosing to do God’s will…in my life this is a HUGE tool that satan uses from time to time, to distract me and keep me from doing what God has for me to do today…
so i was studying this morning and reminded of philippians 3:13, “No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.” (NLT)
the author is the apostle paul and he has just finished listing out his personal credentials…he’s laid down a great foundation for them to realize who he is and where he comes from…according to human standards, he’s at the top! but then he explains that it’s all “worthless” in comparison to knowing Christ.
for paul, knowing Christ meant a lot…he had not always been at the top…he had once made a point of having Christ followers beaten and killed…there was a past there that he had to move on from or he would not be able to do what God had for him to do…and he was fully aware of how Christ could turn a life around and what His grace could do…
i’m thankful for what God has done in my life and for what He is continuing to do even today…but i really wish that the whole forgetting thing came a lot easier for me…i know that it’s good for me to be able to look back and see where God has brought me from and what He has brought me through…
but i wish i could…
forget it…
so what about you…what helps you…
forget it…
i have quite a tattered past friend. but i dont want to forget any of it. its memory has served a great purpose in my life. it reminds me daily of who i do not want to be any longer. then…when i encounter another who is struggling with my “used tos” i can immediately relate, because i remember…i have not forgotten.
and that’s where i battle…there are times when i have been able to pray with someone…or even more so i’ve been able to show grace and be more patient than i ever would have before…yet satan is still able to use that in my life…
thanks tam!
i really believe that satan only attacks the ones he is afraid of. he doesnt need to mess with the ones he already has deceived. how maddening it must be for him to see you use what he meant for evil and destruction, to bless someone else…to praise God with and in it…to be a testimony and rise above it. yah, im not surprised he tries to throw it back in your face. anything to trip you up. ya know?
Hey man, I can tell ya – when I’m scanning my GoogleReader posts .. and I catch one of these, I know I’ve got someone being authentic and transparent …. I love it. It’s awesome how God used His Word to encourage you through this pit today … and pray that He continues to lift you up!
Fred
Jon, I’ve been lurking a bit.
But I had to comment on this one.
I like Tam, do not want to forget, I do want to step away from the bondage of my past but forget it no. I want to remember what it took to get me out and be free in Jesus Christ. What a an awesome post. Thanks for getting me anxious about my future in Him.