Leaving Your Past Behind

Chapter 2 is all about forgetting your past. Philippians 3:13 starts with Forget what is behind and strain towards what is ahead....To forget what is behind, you first have to acknowledge it, then forgive/ask for forgiveness and then forget. A pastor once told me that forgiveness doesn't constitute forgetting. I don't know if I agree, if you haven't forgotten won't it come up in emotional moments when you least expect the reaction. What I mean is if you don't forgive and forget about it then when you disagree with someone there is a chance that the devil will bring it up in a fight and then you are fighting unfairly. So one must acknowledge the transgression and Pray, Pray hard that God will take it out of your mind so you can truly forgive the person involved.

Today I was reading the Purpose Driven Life daily devotional and here is an excerpt on forgiveness:

For your own sake, let go of the past. If somebody hurt you, let go of it, release them. That's one of the values of prayer. It helps you unload. Forgiveness is the only way to get rid of the past. Forgive them and let it go. Get on with life. Forgiveness erases the videotape of that hurt memory that keeps playing over and over in your mind.
In my own marriage, the times I've felt closest to Kay, the times of most intimacy and oneness, have been times after a major blow up. We've worked the thing through, we've both confessed to each other and asked forgiveness, and then we pray together. The oneness that comes out of that kind of experience just can't be explained.
When we let go of our hurts and forgive others, we are reflecting the grace of our heavenly Father who forgave us and continues to forgive us. It means we've given God our love; we've given God our lives, and, in doing that, we worship God.

Even Pastor Warren has to remember how to forgive and forget in Christ. Let go and forget so you can be ready for what Christ has for your purpose in life.

There are many parts to this chapter so I think it will take a few days. Things you should start to think about in this unpacking of your life...what are the pains in your life? what are the tapes going on in your head? what are the negative thoughts and where do you surmise they originated? Tomorrow we will examine our negative thoughts and then ask God to take these away.

Peace and Blessings to you!