Hearts of Christian HomeKeepers™

Many times you hear people talk about not dwelling in the past, that the future is what you need to focus on in order to maintain a happy life. Others say to embrace the past so that you are not subject to repeating it. No matter what you believe, looking back is essential if you choose to move ahead in your home, your marriage, your faith, or even work.

But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted
and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.” 2 Peter 1:9-10 (NIV).

Too often in madness of daily life, we forget to stop and remember that God has forgiven us for the sins we have committed in the past. Often when we make mistakes, we continue to punish ourselves long after God grants us forgiveness. By doing this we are hindering ourselves from moving ahead and living the life that God wants us to live. God loves His children, even if we stray from the past he has set for us.

I have made mistakes in my life at this point. And as much as I hope I won’t make anymore, I know that I will probably stumble and fall down. I am comforted in the fact that God will be there to pick me up, brush me off, and send me on my way.

So what can you do to move ahead? Personal experience has given me a few ideas to help you back onto your path.

1. Cry out to God. He loves you, forgives you, and believes in you. Confess your mistake to him, ask forgiveness, and then let it go.
2. Read your Bible. There are many wonderful gems in the Bible that demonstrate God’s love and forgiveness towards your sin. One of the passages I found that comforts me when I am struggling to accept forgiveness is:

Isaiah 57:18 “16 I will not accuse forever, nor will I always be angry, for then the spirit of man would faint before me—the breath of man that I have created.”(NIV).

3. Talk with another Christian woman who will listen. Often talking to another woman who has been in a similar situation helps you to let go of the pain of the past and accept God’s forgiveness.

4. Journal or blog about your feelings. Writing it down on paper can sometimes help you to organize your thoughts, and understand what you are feeling. If you have a physical record of your fears, take the paper and tear it up, and place it in the garbage. It can help you to remove it completely from your life.

5. Continue to pray on a daily basis. God will give you the strength, if you just ask.

Forgetting the past is often a way to look ahead to the future. But to deny the past is to deny the sacrifice Jesus Christ made in order to ensure the forgiveness of sins. Look back, ask forgiveness, then move ahead. Strive to be the woman God wants you to be.

Blessings to you,

*Graphics courtesy of Creative Ladies Ministry

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009 at 6:56 pm and is filed under The Christian Woman's Life. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.