Subscribe to the NetworkBury the Past; Embrace the Future!!! 2009 – That’s What’s Up
“Walk in newness of life…” Romans 6:4
Some people stay up until midnight to welcome in a New Year. Others will stay up to make sure the old year leaves! Seriously, as you enter this New Year, you can’t afford to let your past infect your present or sabotage your future. It is time to let some people, situations, and thoughts disappear with 2008. Some of us have old hurts, hardships, and hang-ups that refuse to be healed. We are still angry because he stole your girlfriend at the sixth grade dance, we refuse to go visit family members because of what so and so said about you at your high school graduation, or since she has never apologized for hurting your feelings thirteen years ago, you don’t speak to each other. All of these old wounds must be forsaken, forgiven, and forgotten! There are people praising God in church every Sunday who lie awake in the privacy of their homes digging up old bones, picking at half healed scars and reliving old memories. You need to accept that some issues will never be resolved in front of you. You won’t witness the payback. Vengeance is the Lord’s, not yours. He will handle it in His own unique way.
A man was going to enter into a business partnership with a friend. He had come across a great idea and needed his friend to invest in it to get it off the ground. His friend turned down the partnership, stole the idea, and started his own highly successful business. This man was so upset; he could not believe that his friend would do this to him. The man still started his business without his friend’s investment and over the years was slowly becoming successful. He heard about a similar company that was in trouble and had the opportunity to buy the failing company at a significant discount. Little did he know; that friend that had stolen his idea, while on the outside looked very successful (blessed), was in the middle of his 2nd ugly divorce and had just filed bankruptcy. His company was going under and was looking to be bought out… See how God works… Let God and Let God…….
Would you let someone or something that is unhealthy and hurtful move into your house? The mistake most of us make is allowing past hurts to take up residence in our heads and hearts without contributing to the mortgage/rent, the utilities or the water bill (Our wellness or welfare). We allow them to create their own space in our lives and become the obstacles, excuses, and barriers to growing as a Christian, a spouse, a parent, a co-worker, a teacher, a friend, and most importantly, a person. Many times we allow sin and her offspring to keep us from fulfilling our purpose and potential in life.
Paul says, “I know the law but…can’t keep it…sin…keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I…need help…I decide to do good, but…My decisions…don’t result in actions. Something…gets the better of me every time” (Ro 7:17-20). “Thank you Paul” for clarifying to the rest of us who mistakenly thought that once we became Christians there’d be no more struggles! Then he goes on to say, “Consider yourselves to be dead to sin” (Ro 6:11); “Just as Christ was raised from the dead…we also should walk in newness of life” (Ro 6:4).
Paul was honest enough to admit that he still struggled in certain areas. Unlike those with a pharisaical spirit who condemn others for doing the very things they do themselves. We all hate hypocrisy! We know those in the church, at the job, and in the neighborhood that judge other people on face value without making an investment in getting to know them. Many of us have been guilty of assessing individuals and groups without asking one questions or even having a conversation. Most of our beliefs are based on something from our past.
What is more amazing is that while have our own secret and not so secret prejudices (sin) We collectively disdain the idea of people bending, breaking, and bypassing the rules that they are charged and compensated to uphold. When police, politicians, and pastors past and present transgressions are exposed, we take a moral stance against it and condemn them without any mercy. But what about when we sin and it is exposed only to you and God? Where is our moral compass at these moments, what excuse will we give to legitimize lies and justify unjust acts? What is our stance when we have been unfaithful to ourselves and God?
The real question is: Are we forgiving ourselves and others so we can move on in our lives or are we placing a value on something that worth nothing??
In 2009, stop pursuing dead issues and let go of past errors and events; Whatever happened in the past, we have moved past it and cannot change it!!
Whatever sin we are struggling with….. Admit them, Quit them and Forget them!
Now let me say this, if the thing (sin) you are holding on to is a traumatic or life altering experience, you can still move on. Whether you committed the sin or the sin was imposed on you, you can still move forward. First, you take it to God and ask Him to take this load and burden from you. Second, and this is the most difficult but most necessary step. You must forgive those who violated you and those who you violated. We must atone for our sins and forgive those who have sinned against us (just like God forgives us)… Third, you unapologetically seek professional assistance through counseling or therapy. Fourth, you find a support network of friends and family to walk through the healing process. Fifth, Claim your freedom from the past. You speak to your past and inform it that you are no longer its victim. Claim the victory over your past. Hand it the eviction notice and move it out of your life for good. This is not an easy or quick fix but is necessary in order to move forward in 2009.
Instead of struggling to change what you cannot change alone, let God’s transforming power sweep through your life and sever the ties between you and all those tormenting people, places, thoughts and actions from your past. If you do your part, God will do the rest!!
Let them go today in Jesus’ Name!
Have a blessed 2009!!!!!!!!
