Encouragement

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At 4 o’clock in the morning I was in route to work. I was on time. The car in front of me traveled at a snails pace. “I wish he move”, I thought to myself. Impatiently, I began to tailgate. It wasn’t the right thing to do, but I wanted him to get out of the way. The driver didn’t seem bothered that I was driving closely. I saw a two-lane road ahead. Upon approaching the two lane road, I veered to the left lane. While passing, I mimic the word “sucker”. A half a block down the road, red and blue lights appeared in my rearview mirror. I glanced down at my speedometer. By then I heard the police siren. Pulling the car over to the side, I parked. Retrieving my driver’s license and insurance card, I proceeded to rolled down the driver’s window. The policeman tapped on the passenger window. “This is not good”, I thought. Rolling down the passenger window, I gave the policeman my documentation. He silently wrote on his clip board. Then the officer radioed his precinct. Five minutes later he handed me a ticket with an envelope. I quickly glanced at the ticket to find that I was speeding 62 mph in a 45 mph zone. I could not believe it. On top of that, I was late for work. During lunch, while reading my bible, I noticed the scripture that says, “This one thing I do forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before” (Phil 3:13). From that scripture, I learned how to forget and press on. Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired? Are you mentally drained from the stressors of life? Here are three ways to forget what has gotten you down and press on with your life.
1. Avoid situations that cause you undue anxiety. It is always wise to ponder the consequences of your actions prior to committing the offense. Yet, how many of us have the time to do that? I considered neither a ticket nor the cost of the ticket when I decided to race around the automobile before me. If that wasn’t bad enough, I had to decide whether to take a driver’s course or have points accessed on my record. I couldn’t attend the driver’s course because I had just started a new job. Conversely, if I don’t attend the course my insurance premiums would increase. Had I thought through this scenario, I could have avoided my dilemma all together. Always consider the cost before making a choice.
2. Stop blaming yourself. Satan did a number on mankind in the garden when he got Eve to eat the fruit of the garden, and then got her to give it to Adam. Instead of blaming the one that started the trouble, they began to shift blame on one another. At any rate, God still evicted them out of their perfect home. Nevertheless, Adam and Eve adjusted to their new living conditions and had children. They forgot and press on beyond the blame. You are no different. Take a look in the mirror and say to yourself, this too shall pass. Give yourself a pep talk. You are stronger than your circumstances. Don’t let trials turn you into a failure. You have been in worst situations than this and have endured; snap out of it! End the blame game.
3. Forgive Yourself. This isn’t the first time you will fall nor will it be the last. Guilt has a way of keeping you in spiritual bondage. Exonerate yourself. God is the creator of forgiveness and If God can forgive you, then you certainly should be able to forgive yourself.
Troubles come and go. “Weeping endures for a night but joy comes in the morning” (Psalms 30:5). Nevertheless, all things will work out. Tomorrow will be a better day. God’s goodness towards us doesn’t change when we are going through a storm. He is not subject to mood swings. Therefore, rejoice and “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling” (Phil 3:14). There is nothing you can’t do with God. Keep pressing on.

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