A moment of encouragement from LGS to start your week.

“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
— Philippians 3:13–14 (NKJV)

Life is full of changing seasons.

Some changes we look forward to with excitement. Others come unexpectedly, leaving us wondering what happened, what went wrong, or what we’re supposed to do next.

And sometimes, as we try to move forward into a new chapter of life, we find ourselves constantly looking backward.

Thinking about decisions we wish we could change.

Opportunities we missed.

Relationships that didn’t work out.

Mistakes we’ve made.

Or seasons of life when things simply didn’t turn out the way we had hoped.

Let’s face it. We’ve all made decisions we wish we could go back and do differently.

Sometimes those decisions have consequences that stay with us for years. And if we’re not careful, we can spend so much time thinking about what we should have done differently that we lose sight of what God may be doing in our lives today.

But here’s something we hope will encourage your heart.

You cannot change the decisions you made yesterday, but through Christ, you can change the direction you’re walking today.

When we read Philippians 3:13–14, we find the Apostle Paul talking about leaving what is behind and pressing forward toward what lies ahead.

And I think it’s important to remember that Paul had a past.

Before his encounter with Jesus, Paul persecuted Christians. He made decisions that caused tremendous suffering to others.

If anyone had a reason to be weighed down by regret, Paul certainly did.

But Paul didn’t allow his past to keep him from following the purpose Christ had for his life.

He understood that his past was part of his story, but it didn’t have to determine his future.

And neither does yours.

Maybe you’re entering a new season of life right now.

Perhaps you’ve experienced a financial setback, a failed business venture, a broken relationship, or a major life change you never saw coming.

Maybe you’re carrying guilt over something you said or did.

Or perhaps you’re struggling to forgive yourself for a decision that changed the direction of your life.

Whatever it may be, I want you to remember something.

Your mistakes may have taught you some difficult lessons, but they don’t have to become the place where your life stops moving forward.

Now, moving forward doesn’t mean pretending the past never happened.

It doesn’t mean ignoring the consequences of our decisions or refusing to take responsibility for our mistakes.

Sometimes moving forward means admitting where we went wrong, asking forgiveness, making things right where we can, and learning from the experience.

But once we’ve taken those steps, we have to be careful not to spend the rest of our lives punishing ourselves for something Christ is calling us to move beyond.

Because there’s a difference between learning from your past and living in your past.

One helps you grow.

The other can keep you from recognizing the opportunities God has placed before you.

“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 (NKJV)

In this passage, God speaks to His people about doing something new.

What a beautiful reminder that God is not limited by what has happened in our past.

Sometimes we’re so focused on the doors that have closed that we fail to recognize the doors that may be opening.

We keep replaying yesterday’s disappointments while overlooking today’s opportunities.

We become so attached to the way things used to be that we’re afraid to embrace what comes next.

And sometimes, if we’re being truthful, the hardest part of moving forward isn’t leaving the past behind.

It’s trusting God enough to step into a future we cannot yet see.

But that’s where faith comes in.

We don’t have to know exactly how everything will work out.

We don’t have to have every answer.

We simply need to keep our eyes on Jesus and be willing to take the next step in obedience to Him.

Because a new season doesn’t always mean everything around us is going to change overnight.

Sometimes the greatest change begins within us.

A renewed heart.

A different perspective.

A willingness to forgive.

The courage to try again.

And a growing trust that God can still work in our lives, even after everything we’ve been through.

So if you’re standing between what was and what’s next, let me encourage you today.

Don’t allow yesterday’s failures to convince you that tomorrow holds no promise.

Don’t allow regret to steal the joy and peace Christ offers you today.

And don’t become so focused on what went wrong that you forget Who is walking with you as you move forward.

You are not required to have a perfect past to have a meaningful future in Christ.

Accept the grace and forgiveness Christ offers.

And keep moving forward.

Because the Lord isn’t finished working in your life simply because a chapter didn’t turn out the way you expected.

Your past may explain where you’ve been, but it doesn’t have to determine where you’re going.

And remember:

You can’t move forward into what God has ahead of you if you’re constantly looking backward at what you’ve left behind.

Keep your eyes on Jesus.

Trust Him with this new season.

And take the next step.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your love, mercy, and grace. Lord, You know the mistakes we’ve made, the regrets we carry, and the difficult seasons we’ve walked through. Help us learn from our past without allowing it to control our future. Give us the humility to acknowledge our mistakes, the courage to make things right where we can, and the willingness to accept the forgiveness You offer through Jesus Christ. As we enter new seasons of life, help us release the things we cannot change and trust You with the things we cannot yet see. Give us wisdom, renewed hope, and the strength to keep moving forward with our eyes fixed on You. May our lives continue to bring honor and glory to Your name. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Let's Get Serious for Jesus.

God Bless,
Geff & Sarah