Throughout this devotional challenge, I can honestly say that I’ve been late a few times with my devotion, but I’ve had one, and usually a good Bible study with it, every day except one. No excuses. I coulda, shoulda, woulda stopped long enough to spend some time, beyond prayer, with the Lord.
But that is behind me. This particular article urges me to finish well. To not grow weary of doing good, To continue with my pace, my effort, my energy until He calls me home. (Or in this case, until I complete this challenge.)
Forgetting what is past. I love that verse in Philippians 4. I have permission to release me short comings and failures. Praise God!
That means I get to forget:
- Past words that I shouldn’t have spoken.
- Past attitudes that were unfortunately contagious.
- Past selfishness that I acted upon.
- Past hurts in others that I missed or I caused.
- Past times when my faith was lacking.
See, I know God has already forgiven me for all of that. He’s forgotten my failures and only sees Christ’s righteousness when He looks at me. But I have trouble forgiving myself.
And forgetting?
But that’s what this verse does for me. I not only have permission to forget the past, I’m urged to. Racing forward is contingent on putting the old issues behind me.
Easier said than done sometimes.
Your turn: What failures do you need to forget in order to move ahead?
Tomorrow’s article from Thirty Days of Devotion about our “Daily Grind” is part of the stimulus for this entire challenge. I hope you’ll read the section and definitely come back tomorrow to share your thoughts with us.
Marji Laine 
2015/September at 5:07 pm
Yes I do believe that we are own worst critics! And God’s so much more gracious than we can EVER imagine. Thank you Christa for those kind words!
LikeLiked by 2 people
2015/September at 4:53 pm
Wow! What Christa said! (So well put!) And I will be praying for you, Kristen! We can be our own worst enemies, can’t we?
LikeLiked by 1 person
2015/September at 2:20 pm
Marji, your list applies to me, too. Also past ways of thinking that are not correct according to Scripture. It is HARD to break out of these because they have been ingrained.
LikeLike
2015/September at 8:10 am
Sorry I have not participated for awhile! I went camping with my family, such a blessing! Then when I was home, I became quiet sick from the stuff in the air and our house! After being in such clean fresh air, my body went into “revolt” against all the toxic stuff.
For me forgetting my past disobediences to the Lord is one of the hardest things. I remind myself of those and I am sure Satan is more than willing to remind me too! I often think that my way is better but I am slowly learning to listen careful to that still small voice and DO what it says. I must be one of those hard headed, stiff necked people I am ashamed to say.
Please pray that I can move forward and not make many of those same mistakes!
LikeLiked by 1 person
2015/September at 2:18 pm
Kristen, I’ve had that experience too–body going into revolt after good air & then bad. 😦 Oh, sweetie, you do not seem hard headed at all to me!!!! Our conversations over email have showed to me that your heart is to please the Lord, that you want to follow Him and DO follow Him despite trials!!!! I can see what the Lord has already worked in you, and He will bring it to completion what He has begun in you. And He speaks to you in amazing ways–there are at least two things you have written to me that just stun me with God’s gracious and wonderful truth that He spoke to you.
LikeLiked by 1 person