Forgive to Live_07

Michelle said something powerful on Monday. She said, “I cannot go back and try to fix the past. I can only make amends for what happened and claim the forgiveness that God has for me.”

Why is this so powerful?

Because we cannot fix or change the past, and placing our efforts, our thoughts, our energy there will not produce anything of merit.

Michelle apologized sincerely.

She listened, hearing their perspective, even when it was painful. She did so without excuse, without trying to justify her actions.

She changed, one of the most powerful things any of us can do, with God’s help. She took a new path. She learned from her mistakes. She made choices that were intentional, and not based on feelings.

But having done that, she looked ahead.

To today.

To tomorrow. 

She opened her hands, holding the past loosely, so that Christ could take that weighty burden from her.

And she claimed the forgiveness He had waiting for her.

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” Psalm 51:7 (NIV)

Are you looking so intently at the past, striving to fix it, that you cannot see the new chapter, the clean slate, upon which God desires to write today?

Maybe it’s time to give the past it’s proper place in your heart, and fix your eyes on today.