EXPERTS LANE n INSPIRATION
Released to Receive
“ These things of the past are gone forever .” ( Revelation 21:4 , CEV )
By Sharlyne Thomas
We ’ ve all had someone encourage us to forget the past by saying , “ Let bygones be bygones ,” or “ Don ’ t cry over spilled milk .” One of my favorite sayings is , “ This , too , shall pass ,” because we should always be looking towards the light at the end of the tunnel . Our circumstances change just like the seasons of each year , especially in our businesses . However , the Lord wants us to focus on the future instead of constantly rehearsing or longing for the past . Why ? Because if our hands are full of old things , we won ’ t have room to receive new blessings .
You may have realized that starting a new business is similar to the process of childbirth . As I watched my own daughter give birth to my grandson in 2017 , I saw how quickly she forgot the 24 hours of pain , pressure and fatigue as soon as she held him in her arms . How could she enjoy , celebrate and be grateful for the new addition to our family if she was still focused on the previous day ’ s labor ? Don ’ t be like Lot ’ s wife in Genesis 19:26 ( who turned into a pillar of salt ), afraid of leaving your
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I realized in 2015 — after I left my seemingly secure , full-time corporate position — that in order to receive more of God , I had to release more of me . I had to disconnect from my past physically , spiritually , mentally and even financially . At some point in your journey to success , you must give yourself permission to create or revisit those visions , dreams and goals that will shape your destiny and more than likely , the destiny of those around you ! Decide what you want to receive for all of your hard work and what you are willing to release in order for that mission to manifest .
We have to remember that because we are spirit , soul and body , every aspect of our lives is connected . Consider this : if we are not emotionally healed from a traumatic event from childhood that caused us to distrust authority figures , how will we be able to receive advice and mentorship from a business coach as an adult ? Not only do we need to release past failures and pain , we must also let go of the guilt from our previous wrongdoings , especially when those mistakes were made out of naivety or immaturity . We cannot allow the accuser of the brethren ( mentioned in Revelation 12:10 ) to remind us of , and keep us bound by , our former selves .
The only segment of your history that God wants you to remember is where He ’ s brought you from by His salvation , deliverance and victory . I have many testimonies to prove that when one door closes , the Lord has already provided a ram in the bush as He did for Abraham in Genesis 22:13 . For example , when I was laid off from work ( the first time ) in 2007 , I changed my focus to searching for a job that involved my newly discovered gift of writing and editing — this is what turned into my full-time business . The ending of one chapter should lead to the beginning of another , so do not let a temporary discouragement or inconvenience linger too long . Just speak to your past or present trial and decree and declare that “ it is finished ” ( John 19:30 )!
Sharlyne Thomas Spirit of Excellence Writing & Editing Services , LLC 321.209.2309 editor @ takeupthysword . com TakeUpThySword . com
COURTESY OF SHARLYN THOMAS
8 IBA Success Magazine n VOL 4 , Issue 4