Welcome to “Going Deeper with the Word.” In this segment, we welcome people of all backgrounds, religious or not, to review the Word of God. The Word of God provides guidance, direction, and instructions for living our lives and walking with God.
We have just talked about resetting your story. Now I want us to slow down and go deeper with the Word of God together. We have looked at how this shows up in everyday life, so now let’s see how God speaks about this in the Bible.
Today, I want us to see what -God- says about resetting your story. Let’s start with Isaiah 43:18-19, you can watch on the screen or follow along in your Bible.
“Do not remember the former things,
Or ponder the things of the past.
“Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing,
Now it will spring forth;
Will you not be aware of it?
I will even put a road in the wilderness,
Rivers in the desert.
Isaiah 43:18-19
This is one of my favorite verses because it gives us the opportunity to really stop and think about what God is saying in the symbolism. There is mention of two things that, even with today’s innovations in technology, would be incredibly challenging. Certainly, at the time that this was spoken, they would have been absolutely impossible. The point is that if there’s something that you are asking from God to help you, and it’s God’s will, nothing is impossible. He even is pointing out not to ponder on the past. This could be failures from the past, disappointments from the past, or hurt from the past. God is saying, Don’t focus on that. Focus carefully on what He will do for you in your future.
Is there something from your past you feel will hold you back from a better future? A mistake, a broken relationship, or a poor financial decision that you feel will always hold you back? Do you believe that God will help you forge a new path despite the events from your past? “Let us know in the comments”
Let’s have a look at another place in the Bible that speaks to resetting your story, Philippians 3:13-14.
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider that I have made it my own yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the [heavenly] prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13-14
I believe this verse speaks to the idea of seeking who we are in Christ. The Apostle Paul has been speaking about the goal of being Christ-like in his life, and in this verse, he admits he is not fully there.
I think this speaks true to all of us, for we are all sinners, and certainly, we do our very best to move away from sin as we seek to get closer to God. But as the Apostle Paul mentions, regardless of what we have achieved, we can forget what was in our past. We can lean instead into our future, keeping our eyes on the goal of our call from God in Christ.
Are there areas of your life where you feel you are strong in being Christ-like? Are there areas where you are weak? How can God help you keep your eyes on the future and His will and call over your life? “Let us know in the comments”
Let’s look at one more verse.
It is because of the Lord’s lovingkindnesses that we are not consumed,
Because His [tender] compassions never fail. They are new every morning;
Great and beyond measure is Your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23
In this scripture, we are reminded of the steadfastness of the Lord’s love, kindness, and compassion. We learn that they are new every morning. That’s -every- -single- -morning-.
We need not worry about our past when we place our trust in the Lord. If we made a mistake last night, five minutes before we go to bed, we can start anew in the morning because God is faithful. God is all-encompassing and will meet us where we are to help us start again and move forward.
Are you ruminating or dwelling on a mistake you’ve made in your past? Do you trust God with your future despite this mistake in your past?“Let us know in the comments”
If you are feeling stuck because of things that have occurred in your past—be it five minutes ago or five decades ago—I invite you to approach God right now in prayer. Ask Him to forgive you for the sins of your past and help you forge a path forward where you can truly be who you are in Christ. Ask Him to lead and guide your steps to be aligned with His plans for you, your purpose, and to surround you with a community that can lift you up and support you along the way.
If these verses spoke to you, share in the comments how they lifted you up or encouraged you. Be sure to keep coming back for all the messages in this series as we learn how God invites us into an intimate relationship with Him.
Have an amazing week, and we will catch you next time.
Bless you.
