It's a good thing that we can retain the things we learn in life. If not, then everything we learned to do as a child we would have to keep learning to do again and again throughout life. Even something as simple as riding a bike had to come with correction and direction. And for some of us it had to come with bumps and bruises before we finally got it right. But the beauty is, once you learned to ride a bike you didn't have to learn again. The ability to recall what you learned and apply it the next time you got on a bike is always there.
When I opened my eyes today God had already pressed it on my heart what I was supposed to write about. So many of us want to be forgiven of our past, and rightly so....but do we know what to do with it once we have fully accepted the idea that God has forgiven us? I mean, depending on what all is in your past, there could a lot that you are trying to sort through once healing and forgiveness happens. The most important part is realizing that God has forgiven you...and once you allow yourself to accept God's forgiveness, you the must fully forgiven yourself. This is the place that healing really begins to take place. And God's healing is what is needed to overcome a rough past. But what about the lessons of your past? What do we do with those things? Are we supposed to just walk out of our past and forget about it? I don't think so....and this is where my bike illustration comes in! Walking out of our past requires correction and direction. It requires learning that what we are walking away from was wrong, probably unhealthy (relationally, emotionally, physically, psychologically...this list goes on) and needed to stop. However, just like learning to ride a bike might have come along with some bumps and bruises, you did eventually learn to ride the bike. And that stuck with you forever. Well, your past may have also caused some bumps and bruises too...so the lessons from it should last forever as well. Not haunting memories...not condemnation...but lessons. There is a difference. Memories and and condemnation never let you get over your past....never let you get past your past. But lessons that God can teach you will help you not repeat your past. He wants to protect us from falling back into whatever got us to the place we used to be, and only He can do that in the loving gentle way that He does. Yes, depending on what all was involved in your past, it might be wise of you to put some people in your life that can help hold you accountable and help keep your strong. But don't allow people to be in your life that just want to remind you of all your past mistakes..or remind you of who you used to be. That is not healing or help...that is just the enemy's way of constantly trying to remind you of the old you...trying to hold you down. But once you received God's forgiveness and healing...that person (the old you) is dead and gone and you are a new creation in Christ Jesus! (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Forgiveness comes from God....wisdom also comes from God. Together those two things can prevent you from falling backwards into past mistakes. One, because you learned from it, and two because you don't want to take that forgiveness for granted. I remember one time I was in a deep time of prayer and God took me back to my early 20s and showed me all the mistakes I had made throughout my life. I sat weeping as it was like a movie reel playing in my mind of all of the things I had done that hurt Him, and others...and myself. When it was done I felt God say to me "I'm showing you the things that you have been forgiven for not because I want to remind you of who you used to be...but because I want to remind you of who you will never be again". That was a powerful night for me. It showed me that I had stepped out of the old and into the new. I thanked God for showing me all that I used to be so I could learn from it. I didn't walk away feeling condemned that night...I felt refreshed, forgiven and renewed. I had hope and I knew I could trust God to always show me if I was taking steps in the wrong direction. That is why I invite Him to correct and direct me daily. So I never go back to the things He rescued me from and forgave me for.
God, words can't describe the appreciation for the things You forgive us for. You never give us what we deserve...and that's a great thing...yet to many times we take that for granted. Thank You for Your Love, Forgiveness, Grace and Mercy. And thank You for Your Holy Spirit who is here to help guide us out of our past, help us accept all the things You have for us...and teach us not to go back to the familiar things of our past. Help our lives reflect your redemption so others will see how amazing you truly are. In Jesus name, Amen
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