So Caught Up in Your Past You Can’t See Your Future!

How often do you sit with family and friends and just reminisce about the past? That’s what family reunions and get-togethers are all about. Certainly, the past can be awesome and awe-inspiring but it can also become a trap that prevents you from moving forward into greater things. You can get so caught up in your past; you can’t see your future!

I see people struggle through life because they refuse to accept necessary changes. I see churches stagnating and dying because “it’s always been done this way and it doesn’t need to be changed.” I see people get hurt by these attitudes and it grieves my heart.

While change is certainly painful; change is vital to growth. A seedling can never be productive if it simply remains a seedling. It must be planted so it can sprout and grow and fulfill its purpose. GOD wants His people to sprout, grow and fulfill their purpose.

In Isaiah, the LORD mentioned some of the great things He had done for Israel in their past. But, then He abruptly said to them: “But forget all that— it is nothing compared to what I am going to do” (Is 43:18 NLT).

He told them, you can’t move forward into the greater things I have for you if all you do is sit around reflecting on what you once were. Notice He didn’t say file those things away so you can bring them back up occasionally. He told them to forget about all that and move on. In other words, too much reflection on the past prevents forward movement into greater things!

Then He told them: “I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland” (v. 19). Maybe He speaking to you today? Maybe this word is targeting you? Maybe you are trapped in your past and need to move on?

Are there things in your past you are having trouble getting the victory over? Things in your past still haunting you and discouraging you? Problems, difficulties, bad situations—put them to death and move on—allow GOD to move your life forward into new things—new paths, new adventures, new opportunities—all of these offering greater things for you.

Pastor, maybe your church has stagnated and is dying? Maybe it’s time to release the past and move forward into the greatness GOD has for your future? Maybe it is time to move your people into greater, mightier works GOD has in store for you? Don’t get so caught up in your past you can’t see your future. Move forward in the name of Jesus Christ!

Scripture Reading: “But now, O Jacob, listen to the LORD who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior” (Isaiah 43:1-3 NLT).

Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, I magnify You today for You alone are worthy of all my praise! I acknowledge that I have wasted a great deal of my life reflecting on my past achievements and in so doing, I have failed to achieve the greater heights You desire to take me to. Help me to bury my past and to move on into my future. Help me to put my trust in You and know that You are going to lead me places I never dreamed of. Take control of me today, LORD…I love you!…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!