"Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old." (Isaiah 43:18)
God wants all of us to put former things behind us. He has called us to be a forward-moving people, able to thank Him for the things that are while moving forward to the things that will be.
That's how we should be.
Many of us, however, struggle with putting things behind us. Some of us don't know how to fully let go of the pains and regrets of the yesteryears. Some of us long for the "good old days" to happen again.
Well, with God, yesterday is yesterday.
This article is written to help those who long to move forward but find it hard to do so. If you're asking how to put things behind you, here are a few things you should do.
These things aren't exactly hard to do. They're based on the passage that follows the verse above.
Three ways to put things behind you
1) Choose to see the new things God is already doing
"Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." (Isaiah 43:18-19)
If you want to move forward, you've got to stop looking back. In this case, if you want to put the past behind you, you've got to look at what's happening now in your present life.
Thinking of the past is a sure way to get yourself stuck in it. Stop thinking of what God has done yesterday because He's doing a new thing today.
2) Enjoy the drink that God is giving you today
"The beast of the field will honor Me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I give waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My people, My chosen." (Isaiah 43:20)
Aside from deliberately choosing to stop dwelling on the past, you've got to enjoy what God is doing to you today -- in the present.
While it's good to look back at the times God did something good to you in the past, it's better to think of the good things that He's doing to you today. And yes, why be content just thinking of God's goodness when you can actually enjoy it?
Enjoy God's goodness today. His goodness to you yesterday cannot compare to His goodness to you today. Enjoy it.
3) Thank God for calling you to live for His praise
"This people I have formed for Myself; They shall declare My praise." (Isaiah 43:21)
Lastly, instead of dwelling on what is past with all its hurts and disappointments, choose to thank God and praise Him for being such a good Creator and Father.
Think about it: God saw your life yesterday no matter how good or bad it was, and all that He wants is for you to live for Him today and tomorrow.
Choose to put yesterday behind. All that matters now is that you live for Him.
