I look forward to Wednesdays because I am prompted by the wonderful Internet Cafe to use my creative juices and share God’s Word with a photo.

Philippians 3:12-14
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

 

Photobucket
Did you notice that I was looking back at an antique truck?  Did you notice looking to the past had tarnished my face?  (Ok, well it is a visual teaching tool.)

Doesn’t that happen to us?

When we refuse to let the past go (or forgive wrongs done to us), we are tainted by it.  It has control over us.  We can’t move FORWARD.

I don’t think it was a mistake that the word PRESS was used in that scripture.  It is a conscious choice for us to PRESS — push against with determination — to MOVE FORWARD.   It doesn’t just happen naturally.  WE MAKE THE CHOICE TO LEAVE IT BEHIND US.

Do you find yourself rehashing old conversations?

Does your mind race in circles around the same ol’ wounds from years gone by?

We have all struggled with this at some point in our lives, right?  But if this post finds you still doing that today, then make this the END OF THE backwards race.

Jesus has already done everything He needed to do for us so that we could walk in victory.  We have the tools, we have the weapons, we have the Word of God, and we have the Holy Spirit.  We CAN do this.  I promise!

Forgiving others is KEY to us walking in that victory.

Colossians 3:13
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

 Mark 11:25
And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.

We MUST forgive so that God can forgive us.

We MUST let go of the past and all of the hurts associated with it.

We CANNOT move forward when the past holds us captive.

If you can think of past hurts or situations and not feel the sting of it anymore, then all is healed.  If the sting is still there, then you will find some wounds that need to be dealt with.  Seek God in it, and He will reveal what needs to be cleansed.

I pray each of us will hear the gentle leading of the Lord to keep our eyes FOCUSED on Him.

For more Word-Filled Wednesday posts, please hop over to the Internet Cafe and get a cup of blessings!  Click their button below.


I am also linking with the lovely Ann Voskamp at A Holy Experience to share about FORGIVENESS.  Find more posts on forgiveness by clicking on her button below:

Have a BLESSED Wednesday everyone!