I had to smile as I thought about what John Maxwell wrote in his book, "Today Matters", and I quote: "2004 ended on December 31, 2004…last year and yesterday ended that night." Well guess what my beloved? You can say the same thing about the year 2007…it ended on December 31, 2007, which means last year and yesterday ended that night. Which also means that 2007 or the past is over. It's gone! You've walked out of last year and yesterday and what was the future is now today.
With all of this in mind, allow me to suggest a strategy to help you to start out with an absolute clean slate in the year "2-0-0-8".
1. Open your Bible to Philippians 3:13-14 and read both verses.
2. Now take the time to listen to some great instruction given by the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul:
Paul says it is more than time to come to the conclusion that 2007 brought with it the good, the bad, and the ugly. And wisdom would dictate that you admit that you still don't understand everything that happened; and yes, you're absolutely right, some of the things that happened weren't really fair and they were totally embarrassing and at times, flat painful. And if you so decide, you could stay angry and hurt about it all but again, wisdom would dictate that you move on. So how does a person move on?
If you're saved, and what you did was sin; agree with God that it was sin, confess it, and ask God to forgive you (I John 1:9). And since His Word promises that He has forgiven you, it is more than time for you to receive the forgiveness, forgive everyone that hurt you, and begin to rejoice in the fact that you've been washed, cleansed, and made whole again!
Okay, we've dealt with part one, so it is time to move to part two. Part two is fun, this is where you'll take the time to bask in and reminisce about all the success and great things that happened; and of course, give God praise and thanksgiving for how well He took care of you. Rejoice and get a great chuckle out of the fact that God loves you so much that He even answered prayers that you didn't pray and gave you things that you didn't even know you needed! What a God…Amen!
And now that we've looked at the good, the bad, and the ugly, the Apostle Paul commands you to "forget those things, which are left behind, and reach forth unto those things which are before." In other words, don't allow yourself to be absorbed by anything that went on in the past so you'll be able to move forward and into the future that God has planned for you.
And yes, we all know that you haven't been programmed to be able to just forget. So Paul is telling you to make a conscious decision, and every time whatever from the past begins to affect you, remind yourself that it did happen or they did do it, but you've put it away. Remind yourself that even though you still don't quite understand all that happened, the good news is this, what was meant for bad; God has and will use it for good. And hallelujah! Whatever it was, you've been forgiven and the lessons learned should be used to make you a stronger and better person for whatever the future holds. Remind yourself that you choose not to wallow in the mess, gossip, and speculation. Why? You've made a conscious decision to have a clean slate in "2-0-0-8"!
And no, we must not stop here! Paul says it is now time to…"reach forth unto those things which are before, and press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14)."
Did you hear that saints? The Word of God says that every time the brokenness of the past comes, we must resist the temptation to dwell on it and press towards wholeness and success that God has already provided. Or, as one of my favorite professors in Bible College would say, "Saints let me tell you something great about being a Christian (then he would ask, "You are a real Christian, aren't you?"), when God chose and called you He knew every mistake and bad decision you would make. He knew everything you would go through. He knew everything that would happen. And He still chose and called you! Now stop fretting about the past, crying over spilled milk, and wallowing in the past. Get up, follow instructions, and allow God to use you the way that He intended.
Just in case you're not sure how to get to the next phase, allow me to make one final suggestion and give you a model prayer to use: Start by reminding yourself that between 11:59 p.m. and 12 midnight on December 31, 2007, last year and yesterday ended. And if the devil for some reason knocked you down or you made a terrible or stupid decision, as you get up to get back in the fight, pray something like this…"Dear God, I have sinned against you, myself, my family, and my friends. I have no excuse for what I did and I'll openly admit that I was flat stupid. The good news, Lord, is I don't have to stay stupid. You promised in your Word that all that will confess their sin would be forgiven of their sin. I confess my sin (name what the sin or sins are); I receive and thank you for the forgiveness. I will forgive myself and I'll forgive others. I was weak and I allowed the devil to knock me down, but by Your grace and through Your strength I'm up and as instructed I will get back in the fight…I'm starting out with a clean slate in "2-0-0-8", in Jesus name…Amen!