One of the things I hear just about as often as I hear anything else in 30 years of ministry are
from people who are haunted by things they've done in the past and this inability to move on when
you look here in Isaiah 43 this is what God is addressing in verse 18 when he says to the prophet
Isaiah forget the former things do not dwell on the past what exactly does that mean and even more
importantly how do we do it how do we practically forget the former things and not dwell on the past
because how can we just forget something that is seared in our minds because of what we've done or
maybe something that was done to us and so our past is a difficult thing when it says here to
forget it doesn't mean that somehow you're you're no longer going to remember what it means means
is no longer give it its weight it it's not like you're you're you're not going to remember it in
fact they're going to be certain things from time to time that might trigger it what it means is
that when you when you remember it you no longer give it its weight you render it powerless and
you begin to realize that that is in the past but I'm I'm not going to give it any weight I'm not
going to give it any value I'm not I'm no longer going to going to bring this to remembrance and
I'm going to render those things powerless in my life don't dwell on the past don't keep rehearsing
it let it go forgiveness for self forgiveness towards others there's evidence in scripture and
evidence from looking at other people's lives that no matter what kind of a past you have you still
have a great future out in front of you but you must let go of the past and for some people that
means forgiving someone else for some people it may mean forgiving yourself or actually receiving
the forgiveness of God so many people are mad at themselves and they won't forgive themselves
for mistakes that they've made and things that they've done and honestly and truly until you
let go of the past you really cannot take hold of the future that God has for you every great
man and woman has to rise above the pain of their past to reach their go God-given destiny there's a
couple of saying that I like one is until you let the past die it will not let your future live you
have to forgive even yourself you have to believe that the blood of Jesus is greater than your sin
and it is where great where sin does abound grace does much more abound we have to forgive people
and forgive ourselves and stop letting the past have control over our lives another saying that
I like is forgiveness doesn't make them right it just makes us free I'm not saying they're right
and some people even though I forgive them I'm not going to let them in my life to get another shot
at me that that would not be wise but I'm not going to keep rehearsing and nursing the hurts
and offenses of my past and letting the devil keep coming and condemning me for the things
I've done wrong those things don't have any power over me anymore I'm going to let him go are you
afraid your past or maybe even your present disqualified you from serving God it's a lie from
Satan we see it over and over in the Bible Jesus turns outcasts into evangelists regardless of how
many times you've messed up or the mistakes you have made Jesus loves you when no one else cares
if you feel like an outcast feel worthless and hopeless because of your past this is an important
lesson this is an important lesson for all of us Jesus knows your past and loves you anyway
isn't that incredible your past is not a surprise to God he knows what you've done and he loves you in
spite of it so what's in your past what mistakes have you made how many failures are behind you
you want to erase the past but Jesus wants to do something better than that he will turn your
past into your testimony he will use your past to reach others Jesus the living water who knows you
fully and still loves you completely and he has a plan for you so learn this there is no future in
your past learn to live in the in today I can't live in tomorrow I can't live in the past but I
can live right now and I can live bold and I can live big and so can you see the blessing of God
and the freshness of God God is waiting for you when you make up your mind to leave the past in
the past all of us have some bad memories all of us have had bad experiences all of us have had
some good ones and even those are in the past so you've got to learn to celebrate what's going on
now it's not coming back so whether good or bad don't dwell on it the problem with being in the
past is you will miss the present David said this is the day the Lord has made today is a gift from
God are you fully engaged making the most of each moment loving your family appreciating the simple
things in life or are you in yesterday upset over the disappointment bitter over who hurt
you thinking about what they said you're missing the beauty of this day once we live this day we
can't get it back don't take for granted all the good things in your life right now enjoy
where you are God's always up to doing something new listen to Isaiah 43:18 don't remember the
former things don't consider the things of old behold I am doing a new thing God tells us don't
dwell on the past it's possible to miss the new thing that God is doing when we're still stuck
in the old thing so forget the former things do not dwell in the past and look for the new
thing that God is doing God is the God of new beginnings God is the God of second chances and
God is always more interested looking way ahead to your forgiveness redemption and
restoration may we walk in his grace and in his forgiveness for our lives here's what Paul says
in the New Testament Philippians 3:13 forget those things that are behind reach forth to
those things that are in front I press towards the goal so get an attitude of gratitude for
today this this is the day God made I'm going to rejoice and be glad in it my best days are
still ahead your best days are still ahead but if you're clinging to the past you'll never know
what God could do your future's bright he says I'm going to here to do you good and not evil to
give you a hope and a future but if you're hold into the past how do you get that future you got
to move on Matthew 9:17 don't try to put new wine in an old wine skin it will tear apart and
so God says the packaging of anything God does it's new is going to change and it won't fit in
an old style life has no rewind button what's passed is passed so let the past serve you don't
serve the past take the good leave the bad and thank God for a new and fresh day in your life