Leaving the Past Behind

August 4, 2020

"That's him," my friend said. "It has to be him."

The soft evening breeze at SeaWorld made the concert delightful. The band's catchy and familiar beat never got old, but the members of the 70's band sure did.

"After all these years," she said, "who knew he'd be still playing."

"Did you try to go and say hi?" I asked, assuming that would be the first thing I would do.

"No," she said. "Although we were close friends, he belongs to the lifestyle I had during that time, and I don't care to go back."

Gulp. A bit of guilt slithered in. In a minute, I would have rushed to him and given him a big ole hug. And faster than a drum beat, I would've gushed an update of my life and asked about his.

But not my friend. Her resolve to leave behind a life that wasn't God-honoring was admirable. And choosing not to look back at time past where her life was empty was honorable. She embraced the new streams of water in her new life. With no apologies, she danced to the melody of her new path. She relished in new friends, and her soul sang to God's promise: "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 NIV).

Let's Pray: Father, thank You for teaching me that I mustn't go back to old ways, to ponder on past failures, to bring back old mistakes. I delight in the breeze of Your promise that in the wasteland of bad memories, You're creating a new spring of beautiful tomorrows. In Jesus' name, amen.

-- What memories, relationships and ways do you need to let go?
-- What changes are needed in your present life?
-- How will you learn to relish in a new day?

Janet Eckles

If this message resonated with you, please visit Janet's cyberspace home for more inspiration.

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