What about the past
Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. ~ Acts 26:9-10
It’s been about twenty years now that I have been living my life by listening to and following the Holy Spirit’s direction and leading. I do not always get it perfectly, but when I feel unsure about steps I need to take, I quickly run to Him for help. I do not want to get off course again like I did for so many years. For the first few years, I struggled with forgiving myself for the messes I had made and the poor decisions I carried out. I did not know how to keep my thoughts from returning to the past and despising myself for drifting so far from my loving heavenly Father. I remember the specific day the Holy Spirit impressed on my heart about letting go of that unforgiveness. He showed me that I was raising my sinful past above the power of the blood of Jesus to forgive me. By holding on to those painful feelings, I was actually putting a wall between my Savior and me. From that day on, whenever those feelings tried to rise up in my heart, I immediately began to thank God for rescuing me and pulling me out of the pits I had fallen into so many times and cleansing me from all the unrighteousness I had committed.
Now, years later, I still do not like many of the things I did, but God is now using those experiences as testimonies to help others. He has placed me in situations where I am able to encourage people who are struggling in the same ways I once did. My hope is to help some avoid falling as far as I did and to help them stay close to their Father when temptations come.
Today’s reading is about Paul giving his testimony before King Agrippa. Paul started at the beginning of his life and shared how the things he was experiencing that day were connected to many of his earlier decisions. In that moment, God was using Paul’s life as a witness of His goodness and faithfulness. Paul was able to explain how he arrived at that point and how God was with him. God turned Paul’s painful past into an avenue to reach lives and preach the gospel.
He will do that for you too. If you have made mistakes in the past or if you have not followed God’s plan and have been doing things your own way, you can change that today. Much like Paul on the road to Damascus, you can turn your life over to God and He will make a testimony out of it. He will lead you on a path that allows you to help others who are struggling in the same areas, and you will be able to come alongside them and help them step closer to their Father in heaven.
Here is how you can begin today:
- Spend time talking to God about anything in your past that still pulls at your heart, then ask Him to help you let it go completely.
- Start thanking God every time old thoughts try to return, because gratitude keeps you connected to His truth and not your past.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to show you one person who might need encouragement from the things you have overcome, then be open to His leading.
- Read Acts 26 slowly and pay attention to how Paul spoke honestly about his past while giving all the glory to God.
Start by finding a quiet place, pray honestly, and ask God to show you anything from your past that still weighs on you. Write down how God has already helped you and thank Him for every moment of mercy. Ask Him to open doors for you to share your story with someone who needs hope.
Today I want to encourage you to release anything from your past that you are still holding against yourself. Let forgiveness flow freely, then ask the Holy Spirit to help you step forward without the heaviness you once carried. When your heart becomes free, ask Him to guide you toward someone who needs the hope you now walk in. As you do, thank God for turning your pain into peace and transforming your past into a testimony that brings Him glory.
Today’s scripture reading: Acts 26:1-11
1 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.”
So Paul stretched out his hand and answered for himself:
2 “I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because today I shall answer for myself before you concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews,
3 especially because you are expert in all customs and questions which have to do with the Jews. Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently.
4 “My manner of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know.
5 They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
6 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers.
7 To this promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. For this hope’s sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews.
8 Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?
9 “Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
10 This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.
11 And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.
Journal:
- What specific parts of my past do I still struggle to forgive myself for?
- How has God already shown mercy to me in those areas?
- Who in my life might need encouragement from my testimony?
- What steps can I take this week to move forward with renewed confidence in God’s forgiveness?
The Daily Dose 