Do not remember the former things

I recently had an opportunity to listen to Mrs. Bharathi Baskar, a famous Tamil Pattimandram speaker (an inspirational speaker). She is a chemical engineer and is the Vice President of Citi Bank. She made some very valid points when she spoke about a ‘dustbin'. She pointed out that every home has a dustbin to hold trash and many times our own fridges double up as ‘trash' containers holding old stuff. More than that she pointed out that our own hearts and minds become the greatest dust-bins holding hurts, regrets, and pain of all the years past!

How very true! I have heard people say that discouragement, dejection, and disappointment are the tools of the devil. When we hold the past hurts and the unkind treatment we have endured from the hands of the people close to our hearts within us, then the devil can use it to upset us. Once the devil brings such thoughts back into our hearts, they bring back the pain we have endured afresh to our minds even after many years. This paralyzes us and we are then not able to live for the glory of God or accomplish the purpose for which the Lord created us. This is the devil's goal. This, I believe, is the greatest tool of the devil.

The Bible says in Isaiah 43:18, "Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old". The Bible constantly asks us the ‘remember' many things; the goodness of the Lord; the wonders He has done in our lives and so on. While we are called to remember all the ‘good' things, we are called to forget the ‘bad' things and forgive the people who perpetrated them. Sometimes we have to endure the consequences of our sin and the sins of the people around us. But in and through our suffering, God moulds us to be useful vessels for the Lord. We are called to learn from our experiences, the good and the bad, all together but not dwell on them and lose our peace!

My friend, it is easier said than done. But let us ask God for strength. My prayer today is that God will give us a double portion of His grace so that we can be overcomers. Let us look forward and not backward for God's promises are yea and amen in Christ Jesus. Only then we can be useful instruments in the hand of God.

Categories: Weekly DevotionalsAuthor: Hephzibah StephenDate: 8th May 2018 Share: newsletterDisplay date: 9th May 2018

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