In 2019, I started something that I hope to make a culture. I decided that at the end of each year I will do a year end review. I will write a list of my Highlights and lowlights of the year. This will help me plan for the next year and also be grateful for all that happened in the past year, because it always works for good. (Romans 8:28).

Let’s Dive in,

Genesis 19 gives the story of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot and his family were warned to flee the city and NOT LOOK BACK (v 17). Later on we see that Lot’s wife looked back and she turned into a pillar of salt (v 26).

I always understood this chapter with the view that since Lot’s wife turned into salt, she would never see the land that God was delivering them to. It was not until recently that God revealed a different perspective to the story – When Lot’s wife turned into salt, she became stagnant – which means she could neither move forward with her family nor go back to her past.

The familiarity of her past was greater than the promise of the future. Maybe she could not believe that she was leaving a place that she had already gotten used to. A situation that was already comfortable – Aren’t we all like Lot’s wife sometimes? For us today, you might not turn into a pillar of salt literally😂 but your stagnation may lead to you missing a God given opportunity or even living a life that is not according to God’s purpose.

Paul in Phillipians 3.13 reminds us that although he doesn’t have everything in his life figured out – He chooses to forget what is behind and strain toward what is ahead. This shows us that forgetting your past is a process. We have to choose everyday to forget our past and to press on. This year one of my goals is to forgive myself for my past. I did a lot of things in my past that were not good. But I repented, cast them on the cross and God forgave me. Why then should I live condemned by these same mistakes?
Part of forgiving my past is to forget it and to shake off any guilt that comes with it.

I choose to forget my past but not to forget the lessons that I learnt – lest I become the same person over and over again. Although my past comes to mind at times, it does not bring the hurt, pain and regret that it used to. Instead, I only look back and see the goodness of God, His faithfulness and it also helps me to continually trust in Him – He says He will never leave nor forsake me, and I can attest to that. Can I hear an Amen?

Use your bitter past to glorify God for getting you through.

Use your joyful past to thank God for being faithful all through.

Today, choose to go through life with a different perspective. Don’t dwell on your past (The good, the bad and the ugly). Instead, focus on what God has in store for you in the future. Ask Him to fill you with the Holy spirit who will be your guide. Ask God to help you to forgive yourself and forgive others. Above all, ask Him for the grace to move on.

Blessings,
Victor George