We live in a culture that embraces hurt from the past and struggles in the now as justification and excuse for all kinds of maladies in the present and despair and lack of hope for tomorrow.
In the midst of this Hebrews 13:8, which assures us Jesus has been with us in every moment of the past, is with and in us today, and gives us confidence that His presence and ability will be with us to face tomorrow.
[Hebrews 13:8 NASB95] 8 Jesus Christ [is] the same yesterday and today and forever.
I know few whose childhood could be more traumatic than my own. I am not saying there aren’t some whose experiences were worse than mine. But mine was bad enough to leave scars. But, I do know although the past may have left you with wounds, and you may walk with a limp as Jacob did after dealing with the fears coming from his past and swindling his brother of his birthright and wrestling with God for a blessing out of it, you can move forward in the blessing and purpose of God for you and you life. The wounds of our lives often result in our seeing the redemptive purpose of God for us.
You can’t live in the past. It will box you into deception used of the enemy to anchor you to those hurts and that past, and hinder you moving forward in God’s purpose and love, and blessing.
You won’t forget the wounds of the past and what has been done to you. But you can forgive what has been done and move forward. Equally important: You also can’t undo what you have done to others that has left them wounded. But you can forgive yourself for it in Him, and you can live in a way to love others… even those you may have wounded previously. And, finally you must turn loose of past mistakes, consequences of sin, or opportunities you let pass you by and embrace His purpose for today.
It has always astounded me that the writer of Hebrews starts out with “Jesus Christ … the same yesterday... “ He has always been Who He is and has been Savior and Lord in it all. Past, Present, and will be in the Future.
Ask Jesus to be Lord of your past. Make this your prayer every time the adversary tries to make past wounds fester and infect you in order to kill you, and relationships, and hope for today and tomorrow. This is exactly why our adversary and his minions attack you with these memories. His design is to kill you and relationships…and hope
Ephesians 4, 5. & 6 Paul outlines relationships: 1) in the church, 2) husbands and wives, fathers and children, and finally masters and slaves (boss and employee). Then begins instruction in the armor of God….but before outlining that armor tells us
[Ephesians:12 NASB95] 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual [forces] of wickedness in the heavenly [places.]
Relationships matter! And they are where most of us receive and give wounds that last. Let us handle them differently in Him.
Here is some encouragement in the form of a powerful song from years ago from an original Maranatha! Music artist Bob Bennett. I’ll give you the lyrics and post a link to a video of the song with lyrics.
Ask Jesus Jesus to be the LORD of Your Past.
Lord of the Past by Bob Bennett
Every harsh word spoken
Every promise ever broken to me
Total recall of data in the memory
Every tear that has washed my face
Every moment of disgrace that I have known
Every time I’ve ever felt alone
Lord of the here and now
Lord of the come what may
I want to believe somehow
That you can heal these wounds of yesterday
(You can redeem these things so far away)
So now I’m asking you
To do what you want to do
Be the Lord of the Past
(Be the Lord of my Past)
Oh how I want you to
Be the Lord of the Past
All the chances I let slip by
All the dreams that I let die in vain
Afraid of failure and afraid of pain
Every tear that has washed my face
Every moment of disgrace that I have known
Every time I’ve ever felt alone
Well I picked up all these pieces
And I built a strong deception
And I locked myself inside of it
For my own protection
And I sit alone inside myself
And curse my company
For this thing that has kept me alive for so long
Is now killing me.
And as sure as the sin rose this morning,
The man in the moon hides his face tonight.
And I lay myself down on my bed
And I pray this prayer inside my head
Lord of the here and now
Lord of the come what may
I want to believe somehow
That you can heal these wounds of yesterday
So now I’m asking you
To do what you want to do
Be the Lord of my Past
You can do anything
Be the Lord of the Past
I know that you can find a way
To heal every yesterday of my life
Be the Lord of the Past
LORD OF THE PAST Song by Bob Bennett
Ask Him…..and let Jesus be Lord of your past, …. Lord of the here and now…..Lord of the come what may.
He is the same yesterday, today, yes and forever!