Memories are like pictures of the past that we carry around on the inside of us. We can have these “memory” photos that we look at from time to time that can encourage us, and it’s great to remember these things.
But unfortunately, we can also have other albums full of negative and painful memories, which keep us stuck in a point in our past. Rather than letting go of these things that hold us back, we hang onto them, talk about and relive them repeatedly.
If you hold onto these things for too long, the result is you won’t trust people, expect the worst in situations and look for the negatives rather than the opportunities and blessings in life. You essentially get stuck!
A sign that your past is impacting you negatively and keeping you from your future is when you find yourself habitually replaying over and over certain incidents in your mind and heart?
You can look fine on the outside and appear like you’ve got it all together, but what is happening on the inside?
Are your memories bigger than your dreams? Are you not seeing your future and all God wants to bless you with because you are thinking about your past far more than anything else?
The good news is that God wants to give you a new beginning. You are never too old to dream another dream and for God to renew and awaken fresh vision in your heart.
It may seem strange at first to embrace a different way of thinking; a new lifestyle, vision, people and places. But one key to stepping into these new things is to make room for them by clearing out and resisting the temptation to repeatedly revisit those unhelpful pictures (memories) from your past. Some pictures quite simply need to be torn up and thrown away.
We like to be comfortable, but when comfortable is keeping you from your best life, it’s time to push yourself out of your comfort zone, clear out any rubbish and embrace who you are becoming and God’s best for your life.
Today I encourage you to empty your album of the pictures and memories that are unhelpful to your future and are causing you to remain stuck. Make room for the new that God has for you. It’s okay to say, “I don’t want this anymore. I don’t want to relive it, rehearse it or have it in my life again; I don’t want to replay those memories and the habits and mindsets they encourage anymore.”
There are far, far better things ahead than anything you will be letting go of and leaving behind. Today is a great opportunity to start to fill your album of memories with great things. Jesus has gone before you and will lead the way, and hears when you ask to be delivered and set free from your past so you can grab hold of your future.” For the righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them.” (Psalm 37:17)
“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:19)
“For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. ‘” (Jeremiah 29:11)
“The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit.” (Psalm 34:17)
Prayer: Lord, thank you that you hear me when I cry out to you. Would you please help me let go of the past, shake of my comfortable when it’s keeping me stuck, and look to the future and all that you have for me. In Jesus name Amen.
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