are usually only there as long as is necessary to
collect what is of value for the journey ahead. If
anything God intends for our past to be a humbling reminder of the fact that apart from Him
we can do absolutely nothing! His Word says that
in Christ we are new creations (2Cor. 5:17). That’s
great news!
The moment we allowed Christ into our heart as
Lord of our life:
t
he chains t
hat bound
us t
o our past were
broken!
We have been reconciled to God through Christ
(2Cor. 5:18). God can also use our past as a testament of His mercy and grace, to mold and shape
us into the likeness of His Son, and to draw both
ourselves and others closer to Him.
Coming to grips with our past is a healing process
that only the Father can guide us through. This
may require that we repent of past thoughts,
words and actions that we haven’t already surrendered to God. It may also mean allowing Him
to give us the strength to be able to move forward and forgive those people who have deeply
hurt us in some way. All of these are vital actions
that must be taken on our part, in conjunction
with much prayer, time in His word, and wise
Godly counsel.
posed to be a whole lot easier?” The answer is
a resounding yes, it certainly is! Life with God,
however, does not promise the absence of trial
or hardship. Our past should serve as a vivid
remembrance of how difficult and unfulfilling life
is without Him.
So friends, we may not be exactly where we
want to be on this road trip called life, but we
should certainly take the opportunity each and
every day to thank God, that because of the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ, we aren’t where
we used to be!
Prayer:
Father, I can’t thank you enough for
your mercy and grace, it is because
of it that my past no longer binds me.
Lead my heart to rejoice in the new
and wonderful purpose for which
you have called me. Teach me to live
each day with my
eyes fixed on the
goal where you
are beckoning
me onward
to Jesus!
By no means am I implying that our journey
through life will be an easy one. Neither am I
implying that we can act in rebellion to God’s
Word and repent, thinking that we are all clear of
His hand of discipline. Disobedience to God has
consequences. Yet, it is with His loving hand of
correction that the Father teaches us obedience
through those consequences.
You may be asking, “Well isn’t life with God supPage 49