Changing your past can restore your future!

The LORD is merciful and gracious; slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. - Psalm 103:8-12

If there was a device that could transport you back in time where would you go? If you could change the hands of time what would you do or what situations would you change while taking this fantastic voyage? Do over college days, right any wrongs, recant statements of regret, apologize to those you hurt mentally and physically or people/Christians you chose not to help?

Though it has been tried, there are no gadgets, teleports or machines to turn back the hands of time. However, there is a panacea which corrects past encounters, wrongdoings, and mistakes. It is the process of seeking forgiveness for ourselves as well as others through God’s word. From God’s Grace and Mercy, He has allowed us the opportunity to request forgiveness by praying and submitting ourselves to him. Contrary to popular belief, most people omit a crucial part of forgiving which is forgetting. Repeatedly we have heard, “I will forgive but I will not forget!” People apply forgiveness and forgetting like oil and water by separating the two. But according to God’s word the two ingredients are inseparable. The only way to forgive is to forget, you cannot have one without the other. Sure many will argue there is no way I will never forget, we read it on bumper stickers in regards to 9/11, women often chant this as their mantra against men who have ‘scorned’ them and the list goes on and on. When it’s all said and done before you can move into a more blessed filled life-style free from burdens and old battle wounds you have to forgive & forget!

Let us take this time to thank God for second chances. His word clearly states that He will not harbor anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities (unlike many of us who have to ‘get even’ or not forget). For as high as the heavens are above the earth, as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us Psalms 103:12. Simply put, once God forgives us he forgets our past. Hallelujah!  Now, if the creator of heaven earth and all living things can be so gracious to forgive us why can’t we find it in our heart to forgive one another?

Forgiveness can remove barriers which appear to be immovable or impeded us from moving forward in life. Take advantage of God’s time machine; prayer & supplication and stand on his promises. Learn to erase the memory banks of your mind of the wrongs that my have occurred. Find a place in your heart to forgive like Christ and allow God to move and make mighty wonders happen in your life!

Tigner J.

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