Forget the Past or Remember the Past?
An important skill for successful living is knowing what to forget and what to remember. For example, it is critical that we men remember our wife’s birthday but forget her age. Humorous, but it is so true!
Many men, however, live in depression and spend their waking hours dwelling on their past sins and failures. Because of this inward focus on the past, they fail to love and lead their family in the present. This behavior is almost as harmful as the sins that they originally committed.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven…” There is a proper time to remember our sins. When the Holy Spirit convicts us we must be sure to quickly respond in confession and repentance. Then we need to forget them and move on in the freedom of God’s mercy, grace, and forgiveness.
If you are not a believer, may I encourage you to turn to the cross where Jesus Christ paid for all your sins. He waits to forgive you, embrace you, and give you the right perspective so that you can love and lead your family the way God intended you.
If you are a believer, remember God’s faithfulness! He promised in 1 John 1:9 that “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” If you do this, you WILL be forgiven and set free to love and serve your family unselfishly.
Isaiah 43:18 says, “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 wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
God does not want you to continually beat yourself up for your sins and failures. He wants you to “rend your heart, not your garments” (Joel 2:13). In other words, grieve over your sin and the harm it caused, then repent, or turn away from it, humble yourself before God, and seek His help to overcome your sin and live a new life!
Jesus said in John 10:10, “I have come that they might have life, and have it abundantly!” Will you receive His abundant life right now by faith?
It’s actually very complex in this active life to listen news on Television, so I only use the web
for that reason, and obtain the newest information.
Thank you for taking the time to respond to my article. However, I am not sure I understand your comment in light of the subject of the article. Maybe you could explain it to me? Thank you! May God bless you with the knowledge of Himself through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Mike Whitney