There are two words I'd like to focus on today that go along with finding and doing the will of God.  They are: Forgive and Forget. 

 Forgiveness is one of those "non-negotiable" items we have to deal with as Christians.  It releases us from past hurts and disappointments others have caused, and helps us proceed to the future God has planned for us.  Another important thing to consider is that Jesus said forgiveness is necessary in order for our faith and prayers to be successful.  See Mark 11:24-24 and Matt.18:23-35.

 Another is forgiving ourselves. 1Jn. 1:9 says "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."    Sometimes this is the hardest area of all.  We know our failures and shortcomings and the Devil is quick to remind us of them.  When God forgives and cleanses it's over!  We no longer have to bring it up and carry a load of guilt.  That's how powerful the blood of Jesus is.

 This brings us to the second word, and that is to "forget."  You see, it's wonderful to know God's forgiveness, but we need to learn to forget the past as well.  Whether it's my own or someone else's, I need to leave the past behind and plan for the future God has for me.  Paul said it like this in Phil. 3:13, ".this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before."  Paul's past was filled with many wrong things, but he understood that through the blood of Jesus all that was gone.  He was like us, a new creation in Christ. [2Cor.5:17]  He chose to forget the failures of the past, and so should we.

Pastor Greg