Where Are You Living

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now its springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah  43:18-19 NIV

This passage is a powerful call to move beyond past experiences and focus on God’s ongoing work in the present. It also suggests that God is constantly creating new things and that we should be open to His new plan and purpose for our lives.

I know I am probably the only person in the world who has been guilty of holding on to the past. I held on pretty tight allowing myself to fuel those fires, that consumed me in all its bad ways. How was holding on to the past helping me now. It wasn’t it was just a waste of my time and energy. Did you know that holding on to the past is a lot of work and stress for our bodies and mind.

There came a point where I had to start thinking about this stuff and what it was doing to my spirit.  What was the use of giving over and praying about things in my life, if I was only going to pick it up again and put it back in my knapsack.

Frankly y’all there came a point where I recognized that not only was I tired, but this was not healthy. Then the revelation hits. It was like that prodigal son moment, where I realized, I didn’t have to stay in the shape that I was in, because not only do I have a God to take my burdens to, and I can leave them there too. Glory!

What does living in the past steal from us? Missed Opportunities, Happiness, freedom, peace, laughter, willingness, time, Leads to stagnation, no focus, bitterness, false judgments, and a distorted view of ourselves and the world.

What should living beyond the past look like? Freedom in my mind, laughter in my mouth, faith in the way I walk, forgiveness starting with self, new adventures with new eyes, Love deep in my heart, inner peace that lets me rest in Gods will and way, understanding that I can let IT GO, joy that bounces off of me and on to you, acceptance as I move on,  and clarity that says to my spirit, I WILL LET IT, THEM, THIS, and THAT GO!.

What’s my point family and friends?  When we live in the past, it takes from us in the presence and can drastically affect our future.  Life is too short, and death is too sure, to live in the past. JUST LET IT GO! AMEN.

Remember friends, we are each other’s keeper and the only time we should be looking down on someone is when we are helping them up.