“WEDNESDAY IN THE WORD”

October 2, 2024

“GOD’S WAY OF LETTING GO OF THE PAST”

“REMEMBER NOT THE FORMER THINGS, NOR CONSIDER THINGS OF OLD. BEHOLD, I AM DOING A NEW THING; NOW IT’S SPRINGING FORTH, DO YOU NOT SEE IT? I WILL MAKE A WAY IN THE WILDERNESS AND RIVERS IN THE DESERT.”

Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV)

It sounds like some Christianese cliche’ to say “Let Go of the Past.” If we’re going to live the future that God has planned for us, we have no choice but to let go of the negative issues of our past that impacts our present and dims our future. In order to accomplish this God has given us a mandate: “Forgive Yourself.” If He has forgiven us, who are we to deny ourselves of the forgiveness that hinders our growth in all areas of our lives” Letting go suggests that it takes an active, conscious and intentional open-handed action to release whatever it is that may be directly or indirectly impacting our lives in a negative way.

Did you know the Bible is full of many verses that talk abut letting go that apply to a wide range of situations in our lives? Isaiah 43:18-19 is a favorite of mine. In my struggles to let go of something, I hold on to this verse. The Lord constantly reminds his people not to dwell on our past. Whatever we are trying to let go of — bad relationship, addiction, the losses that we’ve suffered — whatever it is, if we look to Him and meditate on his word and promises to take care of what we are going through and make a way for us, then we will be living in the promise of Jeremiah 29:11 which says,”For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Most people don’t realize these words were spoken to the people of Israel at one of their lowest points in history.

Most people focus on the “bad” in a situation. It’s part of how we are wired and for self-preservation to ensure that we protect ourselves from harm. However, the Lord says that if we just look to him, we will see the new things he is doing. He wants us to open our eyes so we will not miss the good and new things he is doing in our lives. If we are looking towards him at all times, we will definitely see and experience them. We all have had a long-term relationship that suddenly came to an end. We spent untold hours, days, months and years rehashing it in our minds as to what went wrong. We can focus on all the “if’s,” but none of that really mattered because it was over. When it finally occurs to us that we are wasting the precious life and valuable time God gave us, we will stop trying to work out the “why” of a past event, realizing it had run its season.

When we are so consumed by the past, we are unable to operate in the present, or look forward to a future. It has been said that “we can’t drive forward looking in the rear-view mirror.” Remember I mentioned forgiving yourself for any part of your involvement in the situations. By doing this it loosens the grip that the past has on us. If you go to God with a truly broken spirit and contrite heart about anything, he has promised to be faithful and just to forgive us. And above all, pray at all times about everything.

Let me encourage you today, whatever you’re going through, don’t look back to the past, don’t dwell on the old things — there is nothing there. Remember the story of Lot’s wife in Genesis 19:26. Staying back in the past can become disobedience keeping us from doing what God is calling us to right now and the blessed future to come. So, get into God’s Word and experience the transforming power of your mind and entire life. May God blessings and peace be upon you. Amen.

Pastor Andrea ( Rev. Andie)