“But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,” PHILIPPIANS 3:13 NIV
Forget what is behind you.
Forget the mistakes that happened yesterday, the words of condemnation that haunt you, the plans that failed no matter how hard you tried and the way you used to live before you met Jesus.
Forget them.
You have a Father who forgives you, a Savior to walk with you and a Helper to empower you to live as you were created to.
You are connected to the Almighty God through Jesus and loved passionately by Him.
Through the good times and bad times, the easy times and the hard times.
There will be hard times but you will not experience them alone.
You will be triggered to react the same ways you have in the past but press pause when the trigger hits and lean into your very present Lord.
When things get difficult, instead on focusing on all the things you are not, focus on all that God is.
God didn’t choose you because someday you would be perfect.
He chose you because He loves you and He is more than enough for the both of you.
Love God for who He is and let Him love you for who you are: His child, who He loves and is already proud of.
I don’t know what you’re facing today but I want to tell you that stressing is not the solution to it.
Striving is not the solution either.
Trusting God is.
Surrender is the solution.
Surrender yourself to God. Surrender your situation to God. Surrender your fears to God.
This isn’t about giving up but it is very much about giving over of yourself into God’s hands.
Not because you understand how God can work a miracle but by believing He can work a miracle.
Surrender is about trusting Him to be who He is – your loving Father.
God assured us in Hebrews 13:5-6 MSG, “I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you, we can boldly quote, God is there, ready to help; I’m fearless no matter what. Who or what can get to me?”
“Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.”PSALM 68:19 NIV
Every day also brings old memories that linger, mistakes still bearing consequences, fears that refuse to die, emotional baggage that demands space and attention.
Every day brings new choices to make, new challenges to face, new fears to conquer, new burdens to bear.
God will bear your burdens every day.
Old, new, heavy or light.
Everyday.
You may not know what burdens will be thrust upon you today but God does.
He stands with open arms and strong shoulders to bear them for you.
“And everything I’ve taught you is so that the peace which is in me will be in you and will give you great confidence as you rest in me. For in this unbelieving world you will experience trouble and sorrows, but you must be courageous, for I have conquered the world!” – John 16:33 TPT
Peace isn’t found in the absence of problems, it is found in Jesus.
Peace isn’t found in the hope that the world will get it right, it is found in the promise that Jesus already did.
Peace is not about having a day without conflict or suffering, it is about leaning into God’s strength to deal with conflict and suffering.
Having peace does not mean having a day without external noise or internal worry.
He who faced death and conquered it, doesn’t tell you to simply have peace, He gives you His peace.
Supernatural, omnipresent, divine peace that faces the darkness without fear that the darkness will overwhelm.
He who is Light overcomes the darkness and guides you through it.
You have nothing to fear.
Rest.
Embrace His Peace.
Allow Him to fill you with knowledge of God and hope of heaven as you face madness of the world around you today.
“This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply.” Matthew 6:7 MSG
What is causing you to panic right now?
Panic is defined as sudden uncontrollable fear or anxiety.
All kinds of things can cause panic to rise within you and when it does, I am going to ask you to pause.
To wait before you react.
To take a moment to take a deep breath in and out.
To pray and ask God for His perspective.
He is your Father and He knows you.
He knows what is happening and why it’s causing you panic.
He also knows how to lead you down the right path, not just the first one that presents itself.
He knows how to calm your heart and clear your mind.
When you go to God with your panic, He will give you the wisdom and guidance you need to deal with it.
Cindy Grasso 