Allow me to thank God that God focuses on your future even if you don’t know why I am grateful. But I will let you into the secret right here and now. We start with flashbacks, which most of us regularly experience. Your mind goes to something you did in the past and it evokes a strong emotion in you. It could be pain, sorrow, or even enjoyment.
That last part is what makes addiction so powerful. You flashback and get a rush of enjoyment and you therefore want more of the same. Your flashback could be for food, sex, drugs, alcohol, or whatever. Guess who is causing you to flashback. It is most certainly not God since God focuses on your future.
Take Peter as an example. You recall he denied Jesus three times and yet Jesus saw him in the future. He said to Peter, “when you are converted, strengthen your brethren.” Similarly, God focuses on your future, what you are able to become. That verse also shows that Jesus was praying for Peter. Guess who is praying for you right now that you should not fail? That’s right! Jesus, who is in heaven, interceding for us at the right hand of God.
In Your Mess, God Focuses On Your Future
Peter had messed up badly, even swearing an oath in his denial of Jesus. How might you and I have messed up, denying Jesus with our ungodly acts? In the final analysis, it does not matter because God focuses on your future. All He asks is that you acknowledge your sin and ask for repentance just as David did. That King acknowledged his sins of adultery and murder and instantly, God forgave him.
Similarly, as soon as we ask God for forgiveness, He forgives and forgets. He says He would no longer remember our sins. When God forgave David, He made a promise to him that the scepter would never depart from him. In the same way, God can forgive and forget your past to make a mighty promise to you. That is because God focuses on your future.
It is The Devil Who Focuses On Your Past
Do you have a tendency to recall, even rehearse your past? That was Satan doing his very best to keep you in the past. Mind you, it could be past joys and glory, not necessarily sorrow. But even that can keep you from moving forward, as you continue to revel n past joys. Oh, I used to be this, I used to be that.
Or, it can make you angry with others who do not know your past accomplishments. Who do you think you are, talking to me that way? Don’t you know that I was the boxing (or whatever) champion of the world? The devil enjoys keeping you in that state of anger but God focuses on your future joy and promotion.
Today, make up your mind not to go back to the past with the devil Move forward with God.
Maranatha!
