Are You Living in the Past? by Joyce M. Averils
Forget
the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now
it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and
streams in the wasteland. -Isaiah
43:18-19 (NIV)
I
have many memories of growing up in White Plains, New York. One of my favorites
is remembering Sundays when my mother treated my brothers and me to Italian
ices after church. It didn't happen every Sunday, but on the ones that it did,
you can bet we were three very happy children. Even now, just thinking about
those ices, takes me back to a good place. It's one of my fondest memories.
It's
always a pleasure to remember the good times in our lives. Unfortunately, all
of our memories aren't good ones. They are a mixture of the good, the bad and
the ugly - divorce from the spouse you thought you would spend your life with,
death of a loved one, loss of your dream job, a child's illness.
Memories
of loss and hurt can be very painful and it can become a challenge not to let
them color your present and your future. This week's scripture illustrates a
two-part process that can help you and keep you from focusing too much on the
past.
Forget
the former things; do not dwell on the past. (Isaiah 43:18)
Have
you ever had an argument or disagreement with someone and spent days or even
weeks afterward thinking about what you should have said? Sometimes we replay a
past incident over and over in our minds thinking about what we should have
said or should have done. That's not always best for us. It's important to
learn from your past but it's just as important not to live your life in the
past. Doctor Johnetta B. Cole, past president of Spelman and Bennett College
says, "...let history and past experience instruct rather than determine
your destination." In other words, learn what you can from your past
experiences but do not allow them to determine your present and future.
See,
I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making
a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. (Isaiah 43:19)
A
life lived in the past can cause someone to miss new blessings from the Lord.
Everything you've gone through - the good and the bad - has contributed to
making you the woman you are today. Have you ever seen a glass artist at work?
The artist uses the hottest fires to mold and shape glass into beautiful works
of art. The ultimate artist, the Creator of the Universe, uses every fire you
go through to mold and shape you into the beautiful woman of God He created you
to be. He promises to make a way for you and He will do new things in your
life. Hold on to the promise of a new thing as the Lord makes streams in your
wasteland.
My
Challenge to You This Week:
If
you are plagued with dwelling on bad experiences from your past, the next time
one of those thoughts come,immediately recite Isaiah 43:18.
Remember to look for and wait for the "new thing" the Lord has in
store for your life.
©
2007 Joyce M. Averils. All Rights Reserved. Want to
use this article on your website or your own ezine? No problem! But here is
what you MUST include: Joyce M. Averils, is a Bible Teacher/Speaker/Coach and
author of The Busy Woman's Prayer Journal - My Guide to Daily Communications
with God. Get your free mini-Bible Study, "The Beauty Trap - Where Do You
Get Your Self-Worth?" at Refresh
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