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If we expect to live a blessed, peaceful and joy filled life then we have
to live for today and for the tomorrow's to come. We should never allow
our past setbacks, shortfalls and failures to keep us from experiencing
and relishing in today. There are many people in this world who live in
the past. They don't allow themselves to enjoy today because they
continually think about the pain and hurt that they experienced in times
past. Instead of learning the lesson from that time and becoming better
because of it, they linger in, dwell on and become stagnant in their
present life. They believe the lie that their life can't produce any good
because of what they went through before. What they fail to realize is
that a new beginning is always possible and every hurt that came their way
could make them better, wiser and stronger than they were before. They
simply must believe that their past does not define them, but it can be
used to their benefit and for the betterment of their life today and the
days to come.
What we must always remember and keep in mind is that life is full of
lessons. Our mission should be to learn the lessons from the past and
allow them to make us better than we were before. We shouldn't wallow in
the past and continually bring to memory the old hurts and pains that made
us feel so bad. Instead, we should think on the blessings in our life.
We should think on how fortunate we've been to come through those
challenging times and see how they served a purpose for our betterment.
Always try to think of your past as steppingstones to greener pastures.
Allow every challenge, trial or difficulty to work to your benefit. See
the good, see your blessings, see how far you've come and you will soon
find yourself filled with gratitude not because you went through the
difficulty, but because you came out of it so much better than you were before.
Let this message be an encouragement to stop dwelling on the past and
start focusing on your future. See the good that is before you and be
thankful for it. Allow yourself to be filled with gratitude and
thanksgiving and make a conscious effort to only think on the good things;
things that will encourage you, lift you up and remind you of how blessed
and fortunate you really are. When we focus on the good that is before
us, we will be closing the door to every negative thought and whisper that
tries so hard to discourage us. You are a blessed human being. I pray
that you see it for yourself today and every day to come.
I hope this message inspires and challenges your heart to never dwell on
the past, but make a conscious decision to focus on the blessings of today.
NO FUTURE IN THE PAST
The man looked a little worried when the doctor came in to administer his
annual physical, so the first thing the doctor did was to ask whether
anything was troubling him.
“Well, to tell the truth, Doc, yes,” answered the patient. “You see, I
seem to be getting forgetful. No, it's actually worse than that. I can
never remember where I park my car, where I'm going, or what it is I'm
going to do once I get there -- if I get there. So, I really need your
help. What can I do?”
The doctor mused for a moment, then answered kindly, “Pay me in advance.”
Actually, forgetfulness isn't all bad...especially when we decide to
forget all that pain from the past that threatens to ruin the present.
Like one song says, “There ain't no future in the past.”
The past is to be remembered -- how else will we learn from it and keep
from repeating it? But why would I want to remember every time I felt hurt
because of my spouse, my children, my friends, my boss or anybody else?
Why would I want to fill my mind with a detailed catalogue of past pain?
Better to remember the times that brought me joy or love or feelings of
warmth. Unfortunately, even those wonderful and magical moments too easily
fade away.
A friend of Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, asked her
about a particular traumatic event in her life. Miss Barton seemed perplexed.
“Can't you remember?” the friend prodded.
Clara Barton replied, “I distinctly remember forgetting it.”
Dwell on the past -- but not the negative past, not the pain of the past
nor the sadness. Dwell on the good. Be consumed by past joys and obsessed
with gratitude. Dwell upon the moments that uplifted you, the times you
laughed and the memories of love shown to you by friends and family.
Not everything should be remembered, and those who live well know what to
forget and what to cherish. Like the song says, “There ain't no future in
the past.” But there is joy there. And love. And kindness...if we choose
to remember.
By Steve Goodier
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth
us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are
in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”
Psalm 34:1-5 “I will bless the LORD at all times: His praise shall
continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the
humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and
let us exalt His name together. I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and
delivered me from all my fears. They looked unto Him, and were lightened:
and their faces were not ashamed.”
Psalm 37:3-6 “Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the
land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and
He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the
LORD; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass. And He shall bring
forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.”
Psalm 28:6-8 “Blessed be the LORD, because He hath heard the voice of my
supplications. The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in
Him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my
song will I praise Him. The LORD is their strength, and He is the saving
strength of His anointed.”
Philippians 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath
begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today’s Selected Poem: TEN RULES FOR A HAPPY DAY
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem133.htm
Today’s Selected Testimony: GOD IS FAITHFUL
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony118.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
