Forgetting the past to succeed

 

In the email that I recently sent my contacts to wish them a happy New Year, I encouraged them to stop looking at past events because GOD is doing a new thing this year (Is 43:18-19). I wrote that the fact that 2013 had been good or bad no longer mattered: it will never come back. On the contrary, with 2014, the LORD is giving us a blank cheque and it is up to us to write any amount on it. I concluded saying that, ultimately, 2014 will be the product of our actions – the actions taken in order to see what we have wished for, come to pass.

All this is to say that I was pleasantly surprised yesterday in church. The message was about the four core resolutions that we need to take this year - foundational resolutions without which any other had very little chance to come to pass.

Indeed, reading from Phil 3:12-14 – Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own... But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize... – my pastor said that the very first thing to do is to decide to forget the past!

He told us that the past – good or bad – can easily hold us prisoners. It can cripple us to the point that the devil no longer needs to bother. Lot’s wife remained prisoner of her past because she wanted to keep on looking at what she had left behind.

Some are hostages of past errors/tragedies and cannot move forward. Like my pastor says, some failures may not be on national TV, but on the TV of the soul and mind. ‘Why have I done this? If only I had not…’ Or instead, ‘If I had only done this…’ It is too late; the damage is done. Going on and on about it will not erase it. Just repent, turn the page – like GOD – and start a new chapter.

Some are prisoners of past glories: ‘Oh, I remember when I had… I remember when I did…. Donkey-years ago I could…’ Listen, we will not erect tents over your past successes: life goes on. As Jesus said to the three disciples, “Arise!” (Mat 17:7) Let’s move on; the journey ahead is still pretty long.

I say it again: Do not remember the former things; the things of old. GOD is doing a new thing. Regardless of what the five or ten years have been, they are now in the past. 2014 is a blank cheque onto which you are free to write an amount. You will certainly cash it in full if you apply yourself to doing what is required for that to happen. GOD is ready to help you succeed; but are you willing to get up and try? The kingdom of heaven – the blank cheque – will be forced and it is only the violent who will seize/possess it. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of 2014 (Mat 11:12, Is 1:19).

Once again, Happy New Year!