Don’t live life in the past! All of us have made mistakes and regret a lot of things we have done and not done in the past, but will that change it? No the past is gone and finished forever, never to be visited again! So why dwell on it all the time, rather – “don’t be disturbed about your past – it is forgiven[1] and forgotten. Shake off the past once and for all. Do not partake of it any longer! Lay a wreath there and put it to rest! It is dead and over!” If we hang onto the past we cannot grow and move forward. We can become so focused on past regrets, things that didn’t work out or people that have hurt us that we can miss the gift of today – each day is a new day and God has new things in stall for you! But if your mind is constantly in yesterday we will never enjoy this day as we should. It is even important not to stay focused on past accomplishments and victories as this can steal the new victories God has for you. Live in this moment Ecc 5:4 “give your mind to what you are doing” that means don’t live in yesterday and don’t live in tomorrow focus on right now!
What about the future – are we to partake of that in the present? No!! That is the main cause of anxiety, frustration and confusion if we try to plan the future today! Not one of us knows what lies ahead of us and it is foolishness to think we know how to plot our future? I’m not saying that we shouldn’t make wise decisions, have goals and plan and prepare for our future – yes but we must not waste too much time there! We are not given to see the whole road ahead of us (thank goodness!) for most of us would faint with fear, but we are given enough light for a few meters at a time (just as a vehicle’s light only show the road just ahead of you – you travel that 50m then you see the next 50m) and so it is in life. God never intended for us to see too far ahead mainly because what we would see would overwhelm us and secondly we would never learn to trust and lean on Him!
If we spend our time worrying and trying to figure everything out it will steal the joy and energy that was meant for today. Worry doesn’t accomplish anything positive. God can only work in your life where there is faith – faith is simply trusting, believing that God is in control and that He will work out everything ultimately for our good (Rom 8:28). Most of the things we worry about never come to pass. Mark Twain said “I’ve been through some terrible things in my life, some of which actually happened” Jesus said “Don’t worry about tomorrow it will take care of itself (Matt 6:34). No live each day for today for tomorrow has enough worries of its own! Our attitude should be, this day is a gift, I’m not going to waste time worry about tomorrow - it may not come - and I’m not going to focus on yesterday – that ended last night – this is a new day and I’ll make the most of it and enjoy it today – I’ll stay in the present! Children have mastered this truth, they always live in the present. They get over disappointments quickly, they never hold onto grudges and they don’t worry about the future – they are just happy with no cares (they leave the worrying up to their parents) and so it should be with us what joy and peace we would have if we completely trusted our Father with our pasts and our futures!!
[1] If you have asked God to forgive you through the blood of Jesus your sins are forgiven and forgotten (as if they never happened) and if God has forgotten them what right do you have to remember them ( return to your vomit!!!) But also remember you will give an account for any un-confessed sins. Isah 1:18, 43:18,25, 44:22, Psm 103:12, Jer 31:34, Micah 7:19, Phil 3:13, 1John 1:9.
Tuesday, 26 June 2007
Sunday, 24 June 2007
My Choice
What makes man different to animals? God gave man a free will - CHOICE!
We can choose how we live - we can choose life or death - blessing or cursing!!
We can choose to love and not hate
We can choose to have peace and not fear
We can choose to have joy and not sorrow
We can choose to have faith and not doubt
We can choose to be kind and not harsh
We can choose to be cheerful and not grumpy
We can choose to be givers and not be greedy
We can choose to walk in forgiveness and not bitterness
We can choose to walk in humbleness and not pride
We can choose to walk in hope and not despair
We can choose to walk in mercy and not cruelty
We can choose to walk in freedom and not condemnation and guilt
We can choose to walk in gratitude and thanks and not complaints and negativity!
I can choose to cast my cares upon Him or I can choose to carry the burden and heavy load myself. I can choose to speak positive and encouraging words, words of hope (life) or I can choose to speak negative, critical, judgemental and slanderous words that will kill, destroy and maim (death).
How can we then blame God for how our lives turn out when all along it was our choice which path we tread? If we choose to follow the path of unforgiveness it will most assuredly and definitely lead down a road of death, self destruction, torment, depression and isolation. But don't blame God for where you are, it was YOUR CHOICE!
For unlike animals God gave us a free will - the right to choose because He wanted an intimate relationship and friendship with us. This kind of closeness cannot be forced - for it to be real there has to be willingness on both sides. God is more than willing - He gave the best part of Himself - His only Son to us and all He wants from us is to CHOOSE HIM and His ways!
Challenge (Put it to work)
Lets take one of the above joy and put it into practice. Next time you feel depressed first check to see what is the root of your depression (it could be because of strife, unforgiveness, anger, anxiety, worry, disappointment, fear) deal with the root then choose happiness and say to yourself "I will be joyful" - I will think of and focus on all the good things in my life - I will be grateful and thankful for so many blessings in my life.
What about unforgiveness, next time someone offends or hurts you, you can choose and decide to forgive that person or you can dwell and meditate on that offence! Think of a bulbous weed, when it is young it is easy to pull up but the longer it is left to grow the harder it is to pull and uproot that weed as the root grows deeper and deeper! And so it is with unforgiveness the longer you dwell on the hurt the harder it is to uproot and it will continue to grow into bitterness, resentment and anger.
Then there is fear, anxiety and worry which we all face today! It is a known fact that these are the root causes of certain diseases. We can choose not to allow fear into our lives, we can choose to cast our cares on Him for He careth for you! We can choose to trust Him with our lives (even and especially when things look hopeless).
We can choose how we live - we can choose life or death - blessing or cursing!!
We can choose to love and not hate
We can choose to have peace and not fear
We can choose to have joy and not sorrow
We can choose to have faith and not doubt
We can choose to be kind and not harsh
We can choose to be cheerful and not grumpy
We can choose to be givers and not be greedy
We can choose to walk in forgiveness and not bitterness
We can choose to walk in humbleness and not pride
We can choose to walk in hope and not despair
We can choose to walk in mercy and not cruelty
We can choose to walk in freedom and not condemnation and guilt
We can choose to walk in gratitude and thanks and not complaints and negativity!
I can choose to cast my cares upon Him or I can choose to carry the burden and heavy load myself. I can choose to speak positive and encouraging words, words of hope (life) or I can choose to speak negative, critical, judgemental and slanderous words that will kill, destroy and maim (death).
How can we then blame God for how our lives turn out when all along it was our choice which path we tread? If we choose to follow the path of unforgiveness it will most assuredly and definitely lead down a road of death, self destruction, torment, depression and isolation. But don't blame God for where you are, it was YOUR CHOICE!
For unlike animals God gave us a free will - the right to choose because He wanted an intimate relationship and friendship with us. This kind of closeness cannot be forced - for it to be real there has to be willingness on both sides. God is more than willing - He gave the best part of Himself - His only Son to us and all He wants from us is to CHOOSE HIM and His ways!
Challenge (Put it to work)
Lets take one of the above joy and put it into practice. Next time you feel depressed first check to see what is the root of your depression (it could be because of strife, unforgiveness, anger, anxiety, worry, disappointment, fear) deal with the root then choose happiness and say to yourself "I will be joyful" - I will think of and focus on all the good things in my life - I will be grateful and thankful for so many blessings in my life.
What about unforgiveness, next time someone offends or hurts you, you can choose and decide to forgive that person or you can dwell and meditate on that offence! Think of a bulbous weed, when it is young it is easy to pull up but the longer it is left to grow the harder it is to pull and uproot that weed as the root grows deeper and deeper! And so it is with unforgiveness the longer you dwell on the hurt the harder it is to uproot and it will continue to grow into bitterness, resentment and anger.
Then there is fear, anxiety and worry which we all face today! It is a known fact that these are the root causes of certain diseases. We can choose not to allow fear into our lives, we can choose to cast our cares on Him for He careth for you! We can choose to trust Him with our lives (even and especially when things look hopeless).
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