Do you ever question your usefulness
in the Kingdom of God when you are bombarded with thoughts of your past? It is Satan's ploy to derail you. He wants to keep you planted in the bad soil
of your past in order to prevent you from growing in the things of the
Lord. There is nothing you have ever
done that will disqualify you from being used by God. Yes, we deviate off the path, but we can
always refocus and get back on track. God is faithful and committed to work through every
one of our mistakes.
"Forget the past and look forward to what lies ahead." (Philippians 3:13b) This is a great Scripture to help us to get forward focused on what God has planned for us. I think it is also important though to remember that Paul, the same writer, in 1 Timothy, referred to himself as HAVING BEEN "a chief sinner." Though he didn't stay stuck in his past, in condemnation, or in a state of unworthiness; he did keep in remembrance where he came from.
Satan and some people will try to keep us chained to our past; marking us as unusable. This is a lie. God is always ready and willing to redeem us and set us back on course. However, keeping before us the humble knowing of where God has brought us from is also a good idea. In doing so, we will be more sensitive to others who are stuck in the very messes of life we were once in or are currently walking through.
I want to encourage you to ask God to give you opportunities to testify of the life changes He has made in your life. You too will be able to say to others, "But by the grace (the unmerited favor and blessing) of God, I am what I am..." (1 Corinthians 15:10)
"Forget the past and look forward to what lies ahead." (Philippians 3:13b) This is a great Scripture to help us to get forward focused on what God has planned for us. I think it is also important though to remember that Paul, the same writer, in 1 Timothy, referred to himself as HAVING BEEN "a chief sinner." Though he didn't stay stuck in his past, in condemnation, or in a state of unworthiness; he did keep in remembrance where he came from.
Satan and some people will try to keep us chained to our past; marking us as unusable. This is a lie. God is always ready and willing to redeem us and set us back on course. However, keeping before us the humble knowing of where God has brought us from is also a good idea. In doing so, we will be more sensitive to others who are stuck in the very messes of life we were once in or are currently walking through.
I want to encourage you to ask God to give you opportunities to testify of the life changes He has made in your life. You too will be able to say to others, "But by the grace (the unmerited favor and blessing) of God, I am what I am..." (1 Corinthians 15:10)
