Don’t get Stuck

By Iris Nelson September 2, 2013 Character, Devotion

“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” ~ Philippians 3:12-14 (ESV)

Our new senior pastor had a great message this past Sunday. He talked about romanticizing the past. He said that sometimes we get stuck in the past and do not see the blessings of today.

This got me thinking about my past. Do I sometimes romanticize it? I think I do when I think of my life in Germany. Sometimes I wonder if I would have made different choices in my life, would I be here in Arizona. I don’t know.

But then again, I think that is how God works. He sometimes has to remove us from comfortable spots in our lives in order to get through to us. I know that I had walked away from God, and He needed my attention. So, He had to remove me from my family and friends.

Paul talked about forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead. I believe that my past made me who I am today in my walk with God. So, I don’t want to forget anything from my past, but I do not want to get stuck in it either and romanticize it.

The mistakes I have made in my past God used to give me strength to move on and to minister to others that may have walked the same road. And one thing I want to make clear in all I do and say: there is nothing I can do out of my own strength. I heavily rely on the strength God gives me daily.

Lord of mercy and grace. Thank You for letting me not forget my past, but also for not getting me stuck in it. Lord, may You use my failures to point to You, the Lord of mercy and grace. In the precious name of Jesus. Amen.