Now that a New Year is here, I hope you are aware that it comes loaded with new opportunities to embrace? As opportunities usually come with a time frame attached, it is important to be mentally and spiritually conditioned to identify and make the most of each of them as soon as they present themselves.

Not letting go and learning from the failures, disappointments, regrets of the past is one key thing that prevents people from embracing new opportunities. Forgetting and forgiving the things from your past that you’re still unhealthily hanging on to may be the greatest decision you make right now.

Think for a moment about someone who needs to make major dietary changes for their future health and wellbeing. They may need to undergo a fast from some foods that just don’t add any nutritional benefits to their bodies but rather weigh them down in old and tired patterns of comfort eating. Why not decide today to fast your past? Why not lay them down as a sacrifice first to God and then for your own sake? Why not make a decision today that future you will thank today’s you for?

Learn what you must from the regrets of your past and then let it go. There may be some sweat and tears involved, but joy is sure to follow. Move forward with your life journey. Have faith in what God said to you. Joseph, Abraham’s descendant in the Bible would not have made it if he allowed his past unprofitable experiences to hold him back. Make up your mind like he did to keep going forward even when the pain remains; as the pain would turn to gain in the future. Trust Jesus for your healing where needed. If He says His grace is enough for you to bear the situation (2 Corinthians 12:7-10), then forget the things behind you and reach out for the things ahead of you (Philippians 3:13).

Through all his experiences, Joseph’s focus was on the palace. One day he would be prime minister. The preference and prejudice of his background and the pit and prison into which it all led him did not cause him to forget the promise of his dreams until the performance of the promise came.

Joseph decided not to allow any human scheme to stop or finish him. Keep your eyes and focus your faith on Jesus. God will not fail you if you do not fail Him and yourself. Will you fail him?

Failure usually arises from not knowing or choosing outside of God’s purpose. Are your preferences based on God’s promises? Make sure they are. Every promise of God has a purpose behind it. It’s always about more than just you. Jesus stands to celebrate your victory and so do the many lives that depend on the choice you make today (Romans 8:18-25).

Make a prayerful decision today that your past shall no longer limit, hinder, stop you, slow you down or blind your vision from what really matters.

God bless you.

Pastor Mary