lay it down

some nights it's hard. sometimes you just want to remember all the good things that were and cry.

that's the thing about the past; you can't change it no matter how hard you try.

but you can make a better future.

there are so many things that I would want to change in my past. friendships I would try to cherish better, some I would avoid, chances I would've took, time I wouldn't have wasted. but thinking about the past just really puts you in a funk, doesn't it? it makes you want to point at all your flaws and faults and just how bad you messed up.

but that's the thing about Jesus Christ, He doesn't look at the past. When we ask for forgiveness, of our sins, and strength to forgive others, He gives and forgets. He doesn't constantly look back saying "Oooooh JacyRayn! Look! Remember how bad you disobeyed last week??? yeah,I might have to think about that one before I can totally forgive you."

He has this amazing ever-renewing mercy that is new every morning. He says we are to forgive seven times seventy times everyday.

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
    his mercies never come to an end;
    they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23

"Then Peter came up and said to him, 'Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?' Jesus said to him,'I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.'" Matthew 18:21-22

we have to try to take on a mind-set of forgiveness. we have to look back on the past with blind eyes, as our Creator. it gets hard and sometimes feels lonely, but I promise, joy is around the corner! we have to look ahead and see the opportunities that God had placed in front of us!

When we ask for forgiveness, we have to lay it down. Picture it as this; you do a wrong against a friend, you ask for forgiveness. they accept your apology and let it go. the next day they refuse to talk because they are still mad at you over yesterday! sound familiar? it does to me! if we lay down the past to God, ask forgiveness, and say we are done, and then try to pick it up back again and worry, are we not only hurting ourselves? we have to let go and let God!

this is my little epiphany for today. although I still try to be a 'Lot's wife' and look back sometimes, i'm learning to trust in God whole hearted and leave the past where it belongs.

go make a new memory today! play in the snow! take a deep breathe of the world around you and see there is so much good in the world to out weight the evil. listen to new music. your surroundings can show the work of the Creator and His love in even the smallest detail.

keep your eyes open amigos

jr

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_aVFVveJNs