Christian Living
Forget about it
The most trying times we have as Christians is dealing with the past—past hurts, past painful memories of our broken relationships, past failures of trying to build a business that never worked out as we planned, past sexual experiences that we’ve enjoyed that seem to consume our thought life so much that we lose sight of trying to serve God. These thoughts also takes us places we do not want to go but we wind-up talking failure,” ah it won’t work I tried to built that business and look at what happened!”
We talk lustfully, “I love the way she moved her body in bed I got to go back. I love how big and strong his arms and the other parts of his body were I wish I had that hunk again”.
We make excuses, “I drop that course in school I don’t think I could do it I made a bad choice of taking those classes-- maybe it was the wrong major I chose in College. Maybe I’m not College material besides it’s my parents dream not mine—I want to be a rapper-turn-movie star”.
The Challenge
In order for God to work in a powerful way in our lives we need to understand how to (Let Go) of the past. How do we do that Manuel? We Let Go of the past when we start to FORGET IT.
God said through the Prophet Isaiah, Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old, behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth;
Shall YOU NOT KNOW IT? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert (Isaiah 43:18-19 NKJV).
I shared in my last article “Clean and Clear Conscience” how God will initially cleanse our Conscience with the Blood of Jesus from the sins of the past to serve Him as Christians (Hebrews 9:14 & 10:19-23).
I also shared how we can personify the prayer that Paul prayed for the Christians at the city of Thessalonica that God will sanctify (CLEASNE) our spirit, soul and body and preserve us until Jesus returns for us again (1 Thessalonians 5:23).
So we have instructions of how to live with a clear mind;
1. The first step- is to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior and the Holy Spirit will supernaturally do the initial Cleansing (Hebrews 9:14)
2. The second step- is to pray so we may maintain clean from evil intents 1 Thessalonians 5:23.
3. The third step- is to forget the former things; and do not dwell on the things of the past (Isaiah 43:18).
Should’ve, Could’ve and Would’ve
We cannot expect to go on in life if we constantly think about the past. I’m the first to admit that I struggle with this area of Christian living, the thoughts of the past keeps me back from doing the will of God at times. I reflect back to successful experiences as a Construction manager and making $1800 a week vs. the simple Engineering position (handyman) in this building earning $1200 every two weeks. Someone may say well brother at least you have a job—amen but I cannot lie I struggle with it mentally.
You see Paul said, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).
And when you preach this everyone screams, claps, and yells Glory Hallelujah! But we need to read why Paul made that statement that means reading the verses above 4:13. We must keep all scripture in context of how Paul meant it before we try to make sense of it or try to apply it to other areas of Christian living.
Paul said, not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: (v.11)
I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. (v. 12)
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (v. 13)
This is a practical teaching of living in abundance and then living in poverty then going back to middle-class living. So whether we are up or down financially speaking which is what Paul was talking about we need to learn to be content. I’m still learning!!! Are you?
The fact that I shared my testimony is designed to encourage you. I don’t believe God is going to leave me in this financial state for 20 years, No! Here’s why when we forget about the past and focus on the Word of God--then God will begin to share insight that will give us hope for the future.
God showed me the process of success is to meditate on His word. (See Joshua 1:8) So I began thinking about servants in scripture who experienced roller-coaster financial woes. Joseph is one that stands out read the article “Different ways God calls us”. Joseph was the foreman in his family business being highly favored by his father Jacob and richly rewarded. His brothers were jealous and threw him in a pit and sold him as a slave. God was with him during this dilemma.
Joseph was sold further to Potipher Joseph became the Manager there and the runs into trouble and was falsely accused of rape and thrown into prison. God was with him during this dilemma.
Then Joseph became the manager in the prison and connects with Pharoah’s Butler and interpreted his dream. 2 years later Pharoah has a dream and the butler remembers Joseph and tells Pharoah and Joseph is released from prison and interpreted Pharoah’s dreams and then was awarded the position of the prince of Egypt (Genesis 37 thru 40).
Do you see the ups and downs of financial struggle Joseph had to endure to finally reach his high calling in God’s divine plan? Well, beloved we will experience the same thing in our lives.
While we are struggling trying to figure out why God did I lose my job, why God I was demoted, why God I can’t find a job, why God don’t I stay in one job for a long time? We must realize that if we are doing the right thing as Christians like Joseph—then it’s a training process of different places God wants to groom us in those places.
On the other hand, if we are half-stepping, being lazy, always complaining that’s not my job attitude—you should not be upset if your employer lets you go.
If its abuse you’re receiving from your employers and co-workers you need to pray to God to help you see what’s the lesson to be learned and when will it be over or should you stick it out. You never know if God wants you there to be a shining example of a good worker until everyone repents.
Forgetting to Focusing
God said through the Prophet, forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. (Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV).
Let me share some more current testimony. I’m only making $600 a week now but its steady work and if I desire to--I could stay there for 20 years, but allow me to share what God said and is doing in my life.
1. I was thinking about the past and trying to get back to making $1800 a week.
2. I didn’t get an offer yet from any Construction Company.
3. The MTA project was slow and not possible to enter fully into the project last summer.
4. There was a problem at my job with the plumbing I was stuck on what to do—having 32 years of experience I could not handle the problem. One day I was meditating God brought me to remember an object I had in the basement that will do the work I needed to do. The next day I went to work and what took me an hour and I was unsuccessful--I did it in 3 minutes and created a wonderful tool.
5. The following day I was sitting in the basement and heard a radio program for new inventions. I contacted them and they sent me info on patenting products. God said go on-line. I went on-line and found a place that does everything to bring this invention to fruition. I contacted them and was approved for a patent.
6. So my shallow thinking of $1800 a week went out the window. God will bless me to be rich in a few months. You see if I would have continued to dwell in the past success of being financially secure with just $1800 a week and focus on that--I would have missed the new thing that God wanted me to have and that is $18 million a year.
7. Joseph went from the prison to the palace. Manuel is going to the Palace from the basement.
God wants to do amazing things in your life but don’t consider the former things. Don’t dwell on the past focus on the Word of God. He’ll make a way out of your dead-end job, He’ll make a way out of your troubled circumstance after the training and testing is successfully achieved by you. Just be faithful, focused and fabulous in Jesus’ name.
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Hi Michael, thanks for the compliment. First, I like to say that the checks for the invention hasn't started coming in. I'm in the profolio stage. 18 million is a projected number that the project manager gave on sales because it's a great product. I'm not cheap God told me to go on-line and teach and don't sell any article or make any books just teach.Obviously I will give when I get bless because I tithe and more...Thanks again.
I like your honesty in your article. Everyone has issues but few admit it. I have been to many AA meetings and the honesty there is refreshing compared to church. I am no knocking church,I love my home church but most people wear a disguise. The only question I have for you Manuel is if you are making 18 million a year, why are you a free member?
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