Stuck in the Past

I’ve been doing a lot of introspective thinking lately (too much, if the truth be told). Doing so has made it clear to me that I have become stuck in my thinking. Furthermore, my being stuck revolves mostly around the past – nursing and licking old wounds that should have been healed long ago and holding on to old hurts and bad habits that should have been jettisoned before now. Meanwhile, God says in the Bible: "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 desert and streams in the wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:18-19). God has new things in store for us; he wants to give us new ideas and take us to new places; he wants us to do new things and meet new people. Meanwhile we remain stuck in the old. Why? Mainly because we choose to be stuck. Paul makes that clear when he talks about choosing to press into the future and not be stuck: “I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. 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.” (Phil. 3:12-14).

I realize not everyone is stuck in their thinking right now like I am, but there is a pretty good chance that someone reading this post is. If so, put those bad experiences behind you. Forgive those who have wronged you. Let go of the past – move on! God says he is “making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” In that dry barren place you are in right now God is showing you a path to get on – a new way to proceed and he’s bringing refreshing streams of water to quench your thirst. God has new goals for you, new things for you to do, and you won’t be able to do a single one of them if you remain stuck in the past. What’s written below is found all over the Internet and commonly attributed to T.D. Jakes. I’m not sure if Jakes said it or not, but it is a powerful message – one that bears repeating here.

LET IT GO by T. D. Jakes

There are people who can walk away from you. And hear me when I tell you this. When people can walk away from you, let them walk.

I don't want you to try to talk another person into staying with you, loving you, calling you, caring about you, coming to see you, staying attached to you. I mean hang up the phone.

When people can walk away from you let them walk. Your destiny is never tied to anybody that left. The bible says that, “They came out from us that it might be made manifest that they were not for us. For had they been of us, no doubt they would have continued with us." (1 John 2:19)

People leave you because they are not joined to you. And if they are not joined to you, you can't make them stay. Let them go. And it doesn't mean that they are a bad person it just means that their part in the story is over. And you've got to know when a person's part in your story is over so that you don't keep trying to raise the dead. You've got to know when it's dead.

You've got to know when it's over. Let me tell you something. I've got the gift of good-bye. It's the tenth spiritual gift, I believe in good-bye. It's not that I'm hateful, it's that I'm faithful, and I know whatever God means for me to have He'll give it to me. And if it takes too much sweat I don't need it.

Stop begging people to stay...LET THEM GO!!!

If you are holding on to something that doesn't belong to you and was never intended for your life, then you need to...LET IT GO!!!

If you are holding on to past hurts and pains...LET IT GO!!!

If someone can't treat you right, love you back, and see your worth...LET IT GO!!!

If someone has angered you...LET IT GO!!!

If you are holding on to some thoughts of evil and revenge...LET IT GO!!!

If you are involved in a wrong relationship or addiction...LET IT GO!!!

If you are holding on to a job that no longer meets your needs or talents...LET IT GO!!!

If you have a bad attitude...LET IT GO!!!

If you keep judging others to make yourself feel better...LET IT GO!!!

If you're stuck in the past and God is trying to take you to a new level in Him...LET IT GO!!!

If you are struggling with the healing of a broken relationship...LET IT GO!!!

If you keep trying to help someone who won't even try to help themselves...LET IT GO!!!

If you're feeling depressed and stressed ...LET IT GO!!!

If there is a particular situation that you are so used to handling yourself and God is saying, "Take your hands off of it," then you need to...LET IT GO!!!

Let the past be the past. Forget the former things. GOD is doing a new thing and it's time to release and let go of the old...LET IT GO!!!

Get Right or Get Left...think about it, and then LET IT GO!!!

If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
Happy moments, praise God. Difficult moments, seek God. Quiet moments, worship God. Painful moments, trust God. Every moment, thank God.