Wave Goodbye to Yesterday

…One thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead.

Philippians 3:13 (AMPC)

If we’re going to live a life filled with hope, there are some things we’ll need to leave behind. Do you know that we can get so stuck in the past that we fail to grab hold of the good things God is doing today?

Many people walk around with a lot of spiritual “baggage”—weighed down by past regrets, missed opportunities, bad decisions, or mistakes they just can’t forget. If we’re not careful, we can carry the pain of the past into our present…and even let it affect our future.

The truth is, God has a great plan for your life, and He wants to take you to the next level in your relationship with Him and the good things He has in store. But in order to move forward, you’ll need to wave goodbye to some things from yesterday.

Look with me at Philippians 3:13-14. The apostle Paul tells us: …But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus (NIV).

I love this! With God, we can forget about what lies behind us—that is, the things we cannot change—and press on toward the good things ahead.

I believe some of the most difficult things to leave behind are guilt and regret over past sins or mistakes. Let’s make one thing clear: We all make mistakes. We’ve all grieved over a bad decision or something we’ve said or done that can never be taken back. But there’s a difference between healthy grief—acknowledging our sin, feeling sorry for it, and choosing to repent—and feeling condemned.

You see, our enemy, Satan, wants to condemn us and oppress us with guilt. He wants us to walk around feeling bad about ourselves all of the time. However, look at what God’s Word says:

If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness... (1 John 1:9 AMPC).

Here’s the truth: Whether we feel forgiven or not, God forgives us the very moment we ask, if we are sincere and our hearts are right before Him. Sometimes we need to receive His forgiveness as a step of faith, choosing to believe what God’s Word says over what our feelings are telling us.

When you go to God for forgiveness, the Bible says something amazing happens: As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us (Psalm 103:12 AMPC).

Wow! Take a moment to let that sink in. It doesn’t say that God thinks about forgiving us or waits to see how we’ll act for the next 30 days before making a judgment. No, He removes our sin and lets it go. And if He lets it go, then so should we.

So, what are you holding on to today that could be holding you back? Guilt over past mistakes, the pain of a relationship not working out, or a missed opportunity? Whatever it is, God is the God of new beginnings, and He wants you to begin getting excited about your future.

In Isaiah 43:18-19, He says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland” (NIV).

Regardless of the past—what happened yesterday, last week, or even years ago—God has new and even greater things in store for your life. With Him, we always have a reason to hope!

Prayer Starter: “Father, I thank You for Your love and mercy! You are the God of new beginnings and fresh starts. Right now, I ask for Your divine help to let go of any baggage from the past that is holding me back. Please strengthen my mind and help me to focus on what’s ahead instead of those things from the past. I receive Your love and forgiveness, and I choose to run forward into the great future You have for me! In Jesus’ name, amen.”