Earlier in secondary school, I had the habit of going through my papers after writing exams. I would mark and grade myself. But later on, I discovered that the practice often left me more worried than optimistic. I decided to leave everything to God once I’m done with any paper. I enjoyed peace and experienced more success afterwards.

Friend, you must learn to deal with your past if you would live a life of peace and wholeness. The only person that does not have a past is God; even the devil has a past. Fortunately, the devil has a good past but a bad future, but you, as a believer, have a great future even if your past is bad (Jeremiah 29:11, 1 Corinthians 2:9).

When God told us to remember not the former things, He wants us to take conscious effort to forget the past (Isaiah 43:18-19). It is easier to remember a bad past, and it is normal to want to settle in a good past. But God says to forget the past; both good and bad. In fact, most people get stuck in destiny because of their good past (2 Chronicles 26:15-16).

Like they say, the good is the enemy of the best. As a child of God, always remind yourself that your best is yet to come (Proverbs 4:18). God is always doing something new (Lamentations 3:22-23). Until you forget the past, you cannot experience the new. Forgetting the past is not talking about having a memory loss; it talks about not allowing your past to control your present and truncate your future.

Some people are prisoners of their past (John 5:5-8). They have allowed their past to lock up their destiny, rather than maximize the present to define the future. They keep living in regret of what they did wrong, what they failed to do or the opportunities they missed. No matter how you long you ride with your past, it cannot take you to your future (Philippians 3:13-14).

God does not consult your past to construct your future. When the devil reminds you of your past, remind him of his future. Drop your mistakes at the feet of Jesus. Drop your achievements in his presence (Philippians 3:7-8). Don’t have an arrival mentality. Constantly remind yourself that there is more in your future than your past (Job 8:7). You will get there!

‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria