Freedom in Forgetting

As we or our loved ones get older, we often times start worrying about memory loss. Even when we’re younger and we forget something, we’ll sometimes make a comment such as, “I must be having a senior moment.” Many of us will then proceed to start making lists, setting reminders on our phone, wall papering our rooms with sticky notes, taking all kinds of supplements, or maybe even enrolling in some kind of class – all in an attempt to stop forgetting.

When we hear the word forget, we almost always see it as a bad thing. But what if I told you forgetting can also be a good thing? If there weren’t times when it was good, there wouldn’t be times in God’s Word that tell us that we should. I believe the problem lies in the fact that we have a tendency to remember the things we should forget and forget the things we should remember. The Bible tells us to forget those things that are behind us and focus on those things that are ahead.

No matter how hard we try, there is nothing we can do to change the past. However, if we would be willing to invest that same time and energy into the future, we can make a difference for eternity. Aren’t you grateful that God forgets our sins but He never forgets how you’ve shown your love to Him through serving others? I encourage you. Give God more to remember about you than He needs to forget about you. Stop reminding Him about your past and start walking in what He has for you to do moving forward. Tomorrow can be so much greater than yesterday if we would just start doing what He has for us to do today.

Now, please don’t take me wrong. I’m not talking about attempting to suppress every traumatic thing that has ever happened to you. There are some things that may require counseling or some other form of help for you to overcome. Get the help you need. Get in the presence of God. Remember all He’s done for you. Remember what He’s promised you. Forget any failures and focus on the future because there is freedom in forgetting.

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