“…But one thing I do… Forgetting what is behind straining toward what is ahead”
(Philippians 3:13, NIV)
Come on, let’s do it. Forget the good and bad and all that lies in between….What do you say?
Consider the lilies of the field… Matt 6:28
Consider the lilies of the field… Matt 6:28
“…But one thing I do… Forgetting what is behind straining toward what is ahead”
(Philippians 3:13, NIV)
Come on, let’s do it. Forget the good and bad and all that lies in between….What do you say?
thedailylily.com 
This reminds me of Sara’s song…(c)
RUN, RUN, RUN
REACH FOR THE GOAL
AND INTO THE MANY NATIONS YOU WILL GO
BE PREPARED TO OVERCOME
AND OPEN EYES WITH THE LIGHT OF THE SON
It gives such renewed hope to leave the old stuff (that we have confessed and been forgiven for) behind and aim for a new goal, a new focus in the Lord. To discover what His will is for us in the the next moment, hour, day, week. If we will stop fretting and get over the “would-a, should-a, could-a’s of yesterday and look unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith, He will show us our new mission and how to “go for it”!!
These Scriptures encourage us to leave the old behind and press on to new visions and goals.
“Where there is no vision [no redemptive revelation of God], the people perish; but he who keeps the law [of God, which includes that of man]–blessed (happy, fortunate, and enviable) is he.” Proverbs 29:18
“And afterward I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.” Joel 2: 28
AND THIS ONE IS ESPECIALLY ENCOURAGING AND PROMISING~~~~
“For the vision is yet for an appointed time and it hastens to the end [fulfillment]; it will not deceive or disappoint. Though it tarry, wait [earnestly] for it, because it will surely come; it will not be behindhand on its appointed day.” Habakkuk 2: 3
AND THIS~~~~~~
“For God [does reveal His will; He] speaks not only once, but more than once, even though men do not regard it” [including you, Job].
Job 33: 14
What encouraging scripture in Philippians. Read with me the footnotes for verses 13 and 14: “Paul had reason to forget the past– he had held the coats of those who had stoned Stephen, the first Christian martyr (Acts 7:57,58, Paul is called Saul here). We have all done things for which we are ashamed, and we live in the tension of what we have been and what we want to be. Because our hope is in Christ, however, we can let go of past guilt and look forward to what God will help us become. Don’t dwell on your past. Instead, grow in the knowledge of God by concentrating on your relationship with him now. Realize that you are forgiven, and then move on to a life of faith and obedience. Look forward to a fuller and more meaningful life because of your hope in Christ.”
God’s Word tells us in Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
I say yes to ‘Forget the good and bad and all that lies in between’. And Needles footnotes are helpful prompts to realizing that goal.
I believe I have found some scripture to help us forget the past and move forward, with God. I invite you to read Psalm 13, but I’d like to share the footnotes, for verse one. “Sometimes all we need to do is talk over a problem with a friend to help put it in perspective. In this psalm, the phrase ‘how long’ occurs four times in the first two verses, indicating the depth of David’s distress. David expressed his feelings to God and found strength. By the end of his prayer, he was able to profess hope and trust in God. Through prayer we can express our feelings and talk our problems out with God. He helps us regain the right perspective, and this gives us peace (Habakkuk 3: 17-19).”
Needles, I read Psalm 13 a number of times this am and from different translations, NIV, Amp. and others but this one touched my heart with the stomach full of pain….Message 13:1-2
“Long enough, God— you’ve ignored me long enough.
I’ve looked at the back of your head
long enough. Long enough
I’ve carried this ton of trouble,
lived with a stomach full of pain.
Long enough my arrogant enemies
have looked down their noses at me.”
Happy Home P. H. Church wrote,” I know that God loves me because of the sacrifice He offered for me. This question now becomes, “what will I sacrifice for Him?”
Q: Sara Craddock asked, “What types of things would God ask for as a sacrifice?”
Happy Home P. H. Church “To give up whatever is hindering us from following Him. Time, events, dreams, goals, and the such. God calls for our all.”
Maybe God even asked me to give up a worried stomach and heavy heart so He can reveal the plans Needles posted from Jeremiah 29:11.
Peace, Jesus is the Prince of Peace. And, Needles gives us Habakkuk which indicates to me that even though things all around looks dreadful in my eyes, yet
we are to rejoice in The Prince of Peace. Another thought I have been having; phrases from our lips like recounting things of yesterday each time a new fresh idea tried to blossom. This seems like just another way of holding on to what is behind rather than “straining toward what is ahead.”
I have a thought that I think and say often in situations like this, “what are the new colors in the words and the fragrance of the phrases.” I am thinking what are the new fall colors for my wardrobe and the new fragrance I must wear, like woodsy, flora, etc. I tried to apply these natural habit ideas I have of wanting new clothes and new perfume to my wanting to do the will of The Father.
The scripture MG posted on God pouring out His Spirit on all flesh makes me pause and think about world issues we are facing now. ALL, yes, God’s Word says, ALL!
Forget old ways of thinking and strain hard to press forward for understanding and living peace and unity in His world….
We try to put old mindsets in new frameworks and they are incompatible.
Like Mark 2:21 NLT says: “Besides, who would patch old clothing with new cloth? For the new patch would shrink and rip away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger tear than before.”
Riding horses was a big part of my family’s life growing up. In his ‘day’ my father had been an accomplished jumper rider. The acceptable style of riding in vogue during his younger years was a type of ‘hunter seat’. He never could change the way he had learned to ride. But by the time he had children his type of acceptable equestrian seat had changed. To his credit, however, though he couldn’t personally adapt to change, he didn’t want to impose his out-dated style on his daughters. So this rider, who had won many trophies and ribbons in the show ring, moved out of the way and into a different phase of his horse life (racehorses) and sent his daughters to a summer riding school where they could learn the showring and hunter techniques, trends and styles of their day.
I think in all this I am trying to say that our old way of thinking and doing things may have been great and glorious for a given time period but times change and so must we. And if we can’t make the transition ourselves, at least we can try to be considerate, move out of the way, and help others embrace the new.
Excellent illustration Debi.
Fashion arena and color… Just heard white is the new black. I think I am getting the idea how to implement change. Power brings change! What is my source of Power?
These two scriptures may help answer your question?
Psalm 62:11(NKJ): “God has spoken once, Twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God.”
Acts 1:8 (AMP): “But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you,…”
So it seems that the power source is God but you are the instrument that has to be plugged into or be connected to the power source for change to be implemented or activated. Your listening ears and mind have to be open to the new and engaged; and then your mouth has to operate and speak out the change; your body may have to express the change through what you do also.
Also, Isaiah 43:18, 19 tells us that God does do new things but we have to be able to perceive them. That must be power also.
Isaiah 43:18, 19 (NIV):””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? “
1 Corinthians 7:31 “Those who use the things of the world should not become attached to them. For this world as we know it will soon pass away.”
So why be attached to good and bad memories? We need to push forward and prepare for the future. Pondering on the past is a waste of time and energy. If we make a mistake, learn from it and move forward. We don’t have time to do anything else. We must live our life today pushing forward and preparing for our future, for our eternity. 1 Corinthians 7:31 tells us not to become attached to this world because it will SOON PASS AWAY. As Sara stated “Forget the good and the bad and all the lies in between……” Let’s us move forward with the blueprints for our eternal homes planted deep in our minds. Lets stop wasting time on the dramas of this life that means nothing in the bigger plans. MOVE ON AND MOVE FORWARD……..
chickenfarmer’s statement “Let’s us move forward with the blueprints for our eternal homes planted deep in our minds”….made me think about this building process that we are engaged here on earth that has eternal implications. I Cor 3 and 11 tells us that we are God’s building and that we are builders building on the foundation Jesus Christ drawn up in God’s blueprints. Verse 10 warns us to careful how we build because this eternal home chickenfarmer wrote about will be affected. This tells me that we need to focus our time and efforts on studying God’s blueprints and working to follow them closely in our everyday building process.
Blueprints are patterns that one follows when one is creating or doing construction. We follow a well-laid out pattern or blueprint to guide us in our building, constructing or whatever project we are doing. God the Father sent us the pattern for holy living and righteousness, justice and love…the Lord Jesus Christ through His suffering, death and resurrection.
Like the song by Gwen Shaw that sings, “Let the PATTERN of the SON be the one the only one that men will see in me”