Building The Future with Blocks of the Past

Have you ever felt yourself remembering something that you did in the past? Something that you were doing and then suddenly, a memoir long forgotten enters your mind. Some of these memories have good sentimental value, like those of our loved ones. But their are some memories that creep into our thoughts that are those we wish to forget. Bad decisions that we have made, doing something that we know deep inside ourselves that we should not do, or reliving a painful/embarrassing moment wishing that it never happened. Yes, these are just a few past experiences that at one time we thought would kill us, just ended up being a dissent memory. However, some of our past - instead of leaving it - we bring along with with into the present.

We carry these past "mistakes" along the way, but instead of learning from them, we use them as blocks to stop us from moving forward into our future. Did you realize that you have a future that God has ordained just for you? God told Jeremiah, "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, [and] I ordained thee a prophet unto the nation." Jeremiah 1:5. So before Jeremiah even was born, God knew the plans that he had for Jeremiah, and other great men and women of the bible. He had a plan for each and everyone. Although God had great aspiration for Jeremiah, it still did not deter from the fact that Jeremiah made some mistake.

The people did not want to listen to anything that Jeremiah had to say. Here was a great man of God delivering power messages, yet no one really paid much attention to him. I am sure that Jeremiah felt like a failure, and wanted to probably give up. But it was Jeremiah that said through his most difficult times, "Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But [his word] was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forebearing, and could not stay." Jeremiah 20:9 - Even though it made him weary and felt like giving up, he could not, because he had a word.

When you have a word from the Lord, it is like fire shut up in your bones. As long as that word is in you, it does not matter what mistake you have made in the past. God has a word for you to carry you through. My past does not bring me down, but just elevates me into my future. Although Jeremiah fought many battles of self dissatisfaction, he still kept on moving into his future, because he had a word. Your job might only take you so far, and your family might only be with you for a short while. But if you have a word from God, you can realize that your wilderness is not permanent and your trial is only temporary. My past is my stepping stone into my future with God.

Be encouraged today that no matter what mistakes might haunt you, or decision made that you wish you could take back. Don't be discouraged! Get into the Word of God, and find a word directed towards you. Pray before reading the Word, and ask God to just direct and to guide you. I promise that He will point you into the right direction and will give you a word.

In His Service,

Rev. A B White