PUT THE PAST IN ITS RIGHT PLACE - Having a past is something we’ve got in common. But sometimes stuff happens in the past that we prefer not to think about or talk about. We’re all influenced by the past - but most of us engrave the bad things that happen in marble and painful memories remain stuck in our minds. And it seems that many people let the past drag them down — the feelings of anger or despair, failure or guilt. There must be ways for us to be thankful for the past, without it actually taking over our lives. Our yesterdays can be powerful stimulators to improve life today. “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” - Some people believe the past is the past: Why do you go digging around in the past? Leave it alone, just get on with life, don’t worry about yesterday. And then there are other people who live in the past. They just delight in dragging up the past events of their life and all they miss out often on the present time — no preparation for the future. Each of us have got a past. We are very different, of course, to each other. But having a past is something we’ve got in common. And sometimes stuff happens in the past that we prefer not to think about or talk about. We’re all influenced by the past and sometimes you should really put the past at rest, or at least sort out what needs to be discarded. It might not be easy but it can save you from further unhappiness or confusion.

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Put the Past In Its Right Place

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Having a past is something we’ve got in common. But sometimes stuff happens in the past that we prefer not to think about or talk about. We’re all influenced by the past - but most of us engrave the bad things that happen in marble and painful memories remain stuck in our minds. And it seems that many people let the past drag them down — the feelings of anger or despair, failure or guilt. There must be ways for us to be thankful for the past, without it actually taking over our lives. Our yesterdays can be powerful stimulators to improve life today

Morning Devotions by Chris Witts    

“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” - (Romans 8:1 – NIV)

Some people believe the past is the past: Why do you go digging around in the past? Leave it alone, just get on with life, don’t worry about yesterday.

And then there are other people who live in the past. They just delight in dragging up the past events of their life and all they miss out often on the present time — no preparation for the future.

So, I’m quite sure that the past does matter. It’s very powerful.

Each of us have got a past.

We are very different, of course, to each other.

But having a past is something we’ve got in common.

And sometimes stuff happens in the past that we prefer not to think about or talk about, and we may have learned ways even to block it out.

Dealing With Painful Past Experiences

So, what is in the past?

Lots of things: choices, events, responses, attitudes, desires, feelings, beliefs and many more — and each of these affect the routine of life today, even if we’re not sort of consciously thinking about them.

And it seems that many people let the past drag them down — the feelings of anger or despair, failure or guilt.

We’re all influenced by the past and sometimes you should really put the past at rest, or at least sort out what needs to be discarded.

It might not be easy but it can save you from further unhappiness or confusion.

There’s an Arab proverb that states you should write the bad things that happened to you down in the sand, so they can be easily erased from your memory.

But most of us engrave the bad things that happen in marble and painful memories remain stuck in our minds.

Yes, there’s a lot of unfairness — horrible things happening in our world.

Like an old person who’s walking along the street and gets bashed or mugged. It’s such a stupid, traumatic, selfish event — and against the law. An innocent person is hurt.

So how does this person, the older man or lady, process this event? It certainly will be remembered — it wasn’t their fault.

How are they going to process the ugliness of that attack? I’m not really sure.

And there are, of course, all the people who never get over an accident like that — and others learn to forgive.

And it can be God’s grace that allows such an act of mercy and kindness to happen.

And a very courageous person, almost a wow moment, that says, I’m safe in the hands of God — whatever happens, even if I’m unfairly attacked, it was not my fault. But I give my life and my future into God’s hands and I pray for his protection to look after me.

Maybe that’s a better way of handling it.

Finding Rest From Our Past

There must be ways for us to be thankful for the past, without it actually taking over our lives.

Our yesterdays can be powerful stimulators to improve life today.

You remember the old saying, Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

There’s so much about the past that you can do nothing about — if you were only a child who didn’t have enough information.

But you can learn, if you’re an adult, you learn from the past.

And what about the deep shame that some people carry with them?

Often, it’s a secret that lies buried for years.

We hide sometimes behind computers and phones and newspapers and magazines, or fashion or education or career or Facebook or being busy.

We protect ourselves, actually, by telling lies, by trying to be funny, or we become introverts trying to cover up the past.

“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” - (Romans 8:1 – NIV)

Then how often have you done something that you’re ashamed of and been overwhelmed with grief and carry that burden around with you for weeks or even years?

We feel we’re second class people. It can be actually a soul-destroying event.

Then there are those who do other things like overeating or just lock themselves up, and don’t go out anywhere.

And perhaps that’s why, like the Apostle Paul, you might say, Who can deliver me from this? How can I be free from the shame that I’ve carried for years?

And the answer that the Apostle Paul found was, “… there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1 – NIV)

So, don’t get lost in despair.

“Keep on believing”, Jesus said, “Keep on believing and trusting in me.”

Prayer:
Thank you, Lord, we know that words are very powerful. And with you, you can heal the shame from the past and release us to enjoy life today.

Morning Devotions is a five-minute daily reflection for anyone curious about faith, or looking for encouragement in their walk with God. In his warm and friendly style, presenter Chris Witts — a well-loved Salvation Army minister — shares bite-sized messages applying faith to everyday life.

In today's world real hope is hard to find. That's why Hope 103.2 exists: to bring the message of hope to our community through a family-friendly, safe listening environment.

We won't be quick to criticise or condemn. And we won't play on people's fears. Hope 103.2 will be ready to celebrate what's good in society and culture.

https://hope1032.com.au/stories/faith/devotions/2020/put-the-past-in-its-right-place-morning-devotions/

THE BOOKS AT THE JUDGMENT - The names in this book are not saved on the basis of their deeds. They are saved on the basis of Christ’s being slain. Consider the thief on the cross. Jesus said that he would enter paradise. But 99.9% of his life will be sin. God will open the books. First, he will use the lifelong record of sin to glorify his Son’s supreme sacrifice. And, second, God will read that last page, where the thief’s dramatic transformation on the cross is recorded. This work of God in his life, recorded in the books, about that last day will be the public confirmation of the thief’s faith and union with Christ. And Christ will be the basis of his salvation, not his works. What is written in the books is a public confirmation of our faith and of union with Christ. There will be recorded there the kind of life in Christ that shows the reality of faith — the reality of regeneration and union with Christ. We enter each day as a Christian: confident that our condemnation is past, and that our name is in the book of life. The One who began a good work in us will bring it to completion at the day of Christ.

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The Books at the Judgment

Christ will be the basis of his salvation, not his works

John Piper

“All who dwell on earth will worship [the beast], everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.” (Revelation 13:8)

Salvation is secured for all who are written in the book of life.

The reason that being written in the book of life secures our salvation is that the book is called “the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.”

The names in this book are not saved on the basis of their deeds. They are saved on the basis of Christ’s being slain.

But John says in Revelation 20:12, “I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.”

So, how then does the record of our lives contained in “the books” have a part in our judgment, if we are saved on the basis of Christ being slain?

The answer is that the books, which record our deeds, contain enough evidence of our belonging to Christ that they function as a public confirmation of our faith and our union with Christ.

Consider Revelation 21:27: “Nothing unclean will ever enter [the New Jerusalem], nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

Here the result of being written in the “book of life” is not only not perishing, but also not practicing detestable, sinful behaviors.

For example, consider the thief on the cross. Jesus said that he would enter paradise (Luke 23:43).

But what will judgment be like for him when the books are opened? More than 99.9% of his life will be sin.

His salvation will be secured by the blood of Christ. His name will be in the book of life of the Lamb that was slain.

Then God will open the books. 

First, he will use the lifelong record of sin to glorify his Son’s supreme sacrifice.

And, second, God will read that last page, where the thief’s dramatic transformation on the cross is recorded.

This work of God in his life, recorded in the books, about that last day will be the public confirmation of the thief’s faith and union with Christ.

And Christ will be the basis of his salvation, not his works.

Therefore, when I say that what is written in the books is a public confirmation of our faith and of union with Christ, I do not mean that the record will contain more good works than bad works.

I mean that there will be recorded there the kind of life in Christ that shows the reality of faith — the reality of regeneration and union with Christ.

That is how we enter each day as a Christian: confident that our condemnation is past (Romans 8:1), and that our name is in the book of life, and that the one who began a good work in us will bring it to completion at the day of Christ.

John Stephen Piper was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to Bill and Ruth Piper January 11, 1946. When John and his older sister were still small, the family moved to Greenville, South Carolina, where John spent his growing-up years. His father was an itinerant evangelist, and his mother died in 1974 in a bus accident while visiting Israel.

Schooling

At Wheaton College (1964–68), John majored in literature and minored in philosophy. Studying Romantic literature with Clyde Kilby stimulated the poetic side of his nature, and today he regularly writes poems to celebrate special family occasions. As pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, he would also compose story-poems (based on the life of a biblical character) for his congregation during the four weeks of Advent each year. At Wheaton John also met Noël Henry, whom he married 1968.

Following college, he completed a Bachelor of Divinity degree at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California (1968–71). While at Fuller, John discovered the writings of Jonathan Edwards.

John did his doctoral work in New Testament Studies at the University of Munich, Munich, West Germany (1971–74). His dissertation, Love Your Enemies, was published by Cambridge University Press and Baker Book House. Upon completion of his doctorate he went on to teach biblical studies at Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota, for six years (1974–80).

https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-books-at-the-judgment

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SATISFYING YOUR CORE LONGING - In biblical times, a cistern was a man-made reservoir dug in the ground or rock to collect and store water. Cisterns were important in Israel because of the long dry season and very few natural water sources. But a broken cistern was completely worthless. Cracked rock or crumbling stone held little to no water. Collecting and storing water in a broken cistern would be about as effective as trying to drink from a cracked coffee cup! We’re all wired to feel, think and act in certain ways in order to satisfy our core longing. But we forsake our Creator when we try to fulfill this unending craving in our own strength, and we'll always be left wanting more. The prophet Jeremiah points out the foolishness of God’s people. The Fall corrupted how we try to satisfy the thirst of our hearts. We look to the broken cisterns of relationships, professional successes, material goods or many other things that can never truly satisfy. These things will never offer true peace to our hearts or relationships.

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Satisfying Your Core Longing

Beth McCord

 “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.” Jeremiah 2:13 (NIV)

Have you ever thought about the true longing of your heart?

I’m not talking about a passing craving, intention or goal. I’m talking about the message your heart is desperately longing to hear.

For years, I suppressed the true longing of my heart — to know my presence matters.

As a long-time Christ-follower, I was well-acquainted with the gospel story and knew Jesus loves me and had died for me, bringing me freedom and fullness in Him.

But I was struggling to let that truth fully settle into my heart and life.

I kept falling into the same ruts, feeling stuck and ashamed year after year.

I couldn't grasp the identity and value I knew I already had, and I couldn’t understand why I didn't feel like I was growing more.

Frustration, sadness and loneliness welled up within me, and I became very sensitive to people's words and actions.

I wondered, Is there any sanctification happening within me? Is something wrong with me? Do I have a calling? Can I make any kind of impact on this world?

Though I looked calm and capable on the outside, my inner world was in shambles. I was constantly comparing myself to others, a dangerous game in which I always came up short.

My unwillingness to submit to the Holy Spirit and insistence on going about my life the way I saw fit revealed my idols — the ways in which I tried to satisfy my heart’s core longing apart from Christ.

In biblical times, a cistern was a man-made reservoir dug in the ground or rock to collect and store water.

Cisterns were important in Israel because of the long dry season and very few natural water sources.

But a broken cistern was completely worthless. Cracked rock or crumbling stone held little to no water.

Collecting and storing water in a broken cistern would be about as effective as trying to drink from a cracked coffee cup!

We’re all wired to feel, think and act in certain ways in order to satisfy our core longing.

But we forsake our Creator when we try to fulfill this unending craving in our own strength, and we'll always be left wanting more.

In Jeremiah 2:13, the prophet Jeremiah points out the foolishness of God’s people.

The Fall corrupted how we try to satisfy the thirst of our hearts.

We look to the broken cisterns of relationships, professional successes, material goods or many other things that can never truly satisfy.

These things will never offer true peace to our hearts or relationships.

But there is good news!

Jesus’ life, death and resurrection righted all that is wrong in us so we can bring to life our true longing and purpose.

The gospel specifically fulfills each of our hearts’ cries, giving us a spring of Living Water that will never run dry.

When we know, believe and trust that Christ alone can satisfy us, He unlocks deep transformation.

Our thirst is quenched, and we are set free to live as His beloved children. We can then use our unique perspectives and amazing qualities to bless others and bring glory to God.

Whatever you’re thirsting for today, may you fully believe and trust you are fully seen and loved by God.

He intricately created you and knows your every heart longing. You can find rest and great joy knowing all He has is yours.

Heavenly Father, illuminate my heart with all its motivations and inclinations. I want to break free from the broken cisterns that will always leave me wanting more and move forward in growth and freedom. Help me remember only You can satisfy the true longing of my heart. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY

Romans 8:1-2, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” (NIV)

John 4:14, “But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (NIV)

RELATED RESOURCES

The gospel-centered Enneagram can help you discover your heart’s core longing and how Christ alone can satisfy it. Take Beth McCord’s free test to discover your Enneagram Type and use this personality tool as an internal GPS to keep you on your healthiest path to becoming more like Christ.

To continue in your growth journey, pick up a copy of your type-specific journal from The Enneagram Collection series.

CONNECT

For more gospel-centered insights on the Enneagram, visit Beth’s Your Enneagram Coach Blog, or follow her on Instagram.

REFLECT AND RESPOND

Do you know the core longing of your heart? How have you seen it at work throughout your life? What or who have you looked to in order to quench this thirst in the past?

How do you feel to hear that it’s Christ alone who can satisfy your core longing?

How can you apply this gospel insight to move forward in growth, hope and freedom?

Beth McCord, founder of Your Enneagram Coach, has been an Enneagram speaker, coach, and teacher for more than fifteen years. Having been trained by the best Enneagram experts and pouring hundreds of hours into advanced certifications, Beth is passionate about coming alongside individuals and helping them rewrite their story, allowing them to see that lasting change, meaningful relationships, and a life of deep purpose are possible. Beth lives outside of Nashville and has been married to her best friend, Jeff, for 23 years, and they have two teenage children.

https://www.proverbs31.org/read/devotions/full-post/2020/01/22/satisfying-your-core-longing

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THERE IS POWER IN THE BLOOD - I want to be so full of Christ, that when a mosquito bites me, he flies away singing “There Is Power In The Blood”! - “ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” - 1 John 1:7 English Standard Version (ESV)

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There Is Power In The Blood

Scott Roberts 

I want to be so full of Christ, that when a mosquito bites me, he flies away singing “There Is Power In The Blood”!

I want to be so full of Christ, that when a mosquito bites me, he flies away singing “There Is Power In The Blood”!

Through Bible verses and Christian-rooted inspirational quotes, this website will provide shareable images, Facebook cover photos and graphics for social media sites like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and others based on love, salvation, encouragement, prayer, Christian life and more.

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THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB HAS POWER

Once you've confessed your sins and believed in the cleansing power of Jesus Christ’s blood — don't go back to them.

Give them over, and don't let the devil haunt you with them because those sins are under the blood of Christ.

Some of you live in condemnation. You live in fear.

Believe that this lamb was slain for you, and your sin was laid on his shoulder.

He carried your sin, and he paid the price for that, and there's nothing you can do to work it through.

So, right now, just lay it down.

Then when these thoughts come back to hound you, say, “Jesus is my righteousness. Christ is my righteousness. Christ is my righteousness.”

When Satan comes and lies to you, when he tells you that you still have some devil in you or whatever he says.

Right now, just say back: “Christ is my righteousness.”

Say it right now. “Christ is my righteousness.”

Taken from THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB HAS POWER by David Wilkerson

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