Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Looking forward, Pressing On.


Lately I've been seeing how much i rely on my past glories or hardships. I've spent a lot of time depending on the past. The world says that we need to look back and deal with the past in order to overcome and grow, but that's not what scripture says. 

The Truth is that we are free with Christ so we should be living in that freedom by living fully in the present with great hope for the future.

Why be Present focused? Because I am no longer bound by the past. 2 corinthians 5:17 "therefore if anyone is in Christ the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new has come!" 

Why be Future focused?  Romans 5:1 "therefore since we have been justified through faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ"

So if we are new creations then who we are now and what are we glorifying? How are we spending our time? What are we reflecting on?

A lot of times when people get to know each other they talk about past experiences. It's not that talking about the past is all bad, but I want people to know me for my character- who I am rather than my past, especially the things that aren't a part of me anymore. In the same way, I believe it is good to reflect on the things God has done for us, but most of all He wants to be known for His character and who He is. As we reflect on His character we learn to trust Him and how to let go.

Letting go leads us to righteous living. Letting go makes me think less about myself and my own disappointments. Letting go makes me focus on the bigger picture and the unity of Christ. Letting go makes me want to depend on God's strength rather than my own. Letting go makes gossiping, lying, worrying, or any way i can try to have control over a situation seem pointless. Because my focus is giving God glory right now rather than dwelling on disappointments of the past.

In realizing all this I see how I have held myself back by things of the past. I held insecurities for old mistakes and was anxious that I would do the same things. I felt heavy about old things but Psalm 103:12 says "As far as the east is from the west,  so far has He removed our transgressions from us" . I don't need to dwell on failed relationships or hurtful memories or even good things I've done in the past because they do not define me. Christ defines me. 

I like Google Web's first definition of freedom. Freedom: "the power or right to act, speak, or think...without hindrance or restraint"

If I don't embrace Gods grace and allow it to transform me then I am only held captive by myself, which was never gods plan. He set me free while I was still a sinner (Romans 5:8 "But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us") because he knew I needed his redemption and knew if I surrendered that I could change and press on. 

Philippians 3:14 "I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God through Christ Jesus is calling us"

I am pressing on.