Do you have something in your past that still plagues you? Are there things that you just want to forget but you cannot? Is forgetting really what you need to do? If so, how do you forget those things in the past? Is forgetting really putting things behind us? How do you change the outcome from bad things that happened to you? I believe the Holy Bible has answers. Shall we look for them together?
I am writing this because last week I wrote about a new beginning and I said that we must forget the past. However, I never addressed how to forget the past. I will attempt today to try to show you somethings from The Holy Bible that might help us to forget the past and press on as Paul tells us, “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made 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 of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (ESV) Philippians 3:13-14
The first verse I thought of while pondering the question of how do we forget the past was, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (ESV) Romans 12:1-2 Paul tells us that we must renew our mind. As I see that I believe I need to take captive every thought that is from the past and put them into the hands of the Holy Spirit and WORK through each of them one by one. I need to learn from them. I need to forgive all that were involved including myself. Then after dealing with a past event I need to declare victory over it. Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus:” (ESV) This process may not happen over time. I have found that I have needed to return to things from my past because something in my present has caused me to remember.
I have also found that there is help in Colossians for putting away my past. Maybe these passages will help you as well. “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.” (ESV) Colossians 3:5-8 it is clear that I must put away my sinful past. I cannot forget my past if I am still practicing the sins from my past. Paul continues on with the next step in renewing our mind. “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put-on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (ESV) Colossians 3:12-17 Part of forgetting the past is replacing it with something better, something new. I must change how I think and how I act. Paul again tells me about a new way to live in Philippians 4:5-8 “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (ESV)
The process of putting your past behind you is not an easy task. I believe in doing it you bring yourself hope for the future. When we do not, we wallow in the past and we cannot move forward. The first step to forgetting the past is the most essential one it is to accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. If you do not know Jesus the true source of hope does not abide in you. Learn how to get the hope you need. Learn how to know Jesus
If you have not read my previous blogs you can find them here.
You can find my book, Hope Amid Hopelessness: Our Abba Father Provides a Way Through Mental Illness here.
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