Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
7 31 2024
Audio Version
How long will you let your past Own you?
“Brothers and sisters, I know that I have not yet reached that goal, but there is one thing I always do. Forgetting the past and straining towards what is ahead, I keep trying to reach the goal and get the prize for which God called me through Christ to the life above”. Philippians 3:13.
May I quote Isaiah 43:18 “Forgetting about what’s happened: don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something new! It’s bursting out. Don’t you see it? There it is. I’m making a road through the desert, in the Badlands”.
What does that say to you? What is the filter that you run your future hopes through?
And why is it exactly that you do that? Logically, so we can remember our past experiences, so we don’t make the same mistakes. I get the logic of that. But at the same time, I see the great danger of allowing the fear of our past, the failures of our past,
to shuttle our dreams and hopes for a new and vibrant future.
I was in a prayer meeting with my pastor the other day, and he said to look to the brightness of the future in our prayers rather than being scuddled by not just the failures of our past,
but the burdens of the current day.
Second Corinthians 5:17 says; “anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone: a new life has begun. And then he says in Ephesians 4:23–24 “Instead, let the spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God, truly righteous and holy”.
So can I encourage you today to stop living your life in your review mirror? To stop struggling to get past your past. And start declaring God’s word, God’s promises, God’s plans for a new and exciting future. Hebrews 12:1 says it’s so succinctly: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us
When we run the race, our hopes and expectations are that we’re going to complete it. And that’s what he says here… to strip away past failures and fears in the past! Strip them off… draws me a picture of something with a certain amount of ferocity. Strip off whatever slows us down. Especially the sin that seems to have our number.
Again, Isaiah 43:19 “Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand new. It’s bursting out. Don’t you see it? There it is. I’m making a road through the desert and rivers through the wasteland”.
He is talking about our lives. He is talking about the hopes that we hold onto and let go of, over and over again. He says to be alert and be present. I am about to do something brand new. I am going to do this. Meaning we just need to get on board, have faith, and speak it out every morning that I am a child of the most high God. I am on board for the great things that he has planned for my life. I will not be hindered by the failures and the doubts of my past any longer.
I will trust in the name of the Lord my God… in Jesus’ name.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdO2cRXVHII
He’s been faithful to me. Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.
