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In this passage, Paul is primarily talking about "forgetting" his religious heritage and his accomplishments as a Christian. Some of it was good and some of it was bad. Paul's point is that he wants to forget everything in order to press on in his service to Christ. He does not want anything to get in the way. So he has "forgotten" everything.
Forgetting The Past. I have found that my past problems and sins can weigh me down if I think about them. Sometimes the Holy Spirit is convicting me about some sin I have not confessed. Other times, it is Satan who wants to discourage me. I can know which one it is in a few days, after I confess my sins to God and have asked the Holy Spirit to take control of me (to fill me - Ephesians 5:18). I then thank Him for forgiving me and also for protecting me from Satan. How should we respond after we confess our sins and thank Him? We are to refuse to think about our past. Paul says, "forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead . . . " It is called direction and hope. It is called purpose. We cannot move forward very easily when we are always looking backward over our shoulder.
Conclusion: Sometimes, the dark mood does not disappear so easily. At times I have found that I need to spend a lot of time in God's Word to bring me out of my "dark moods." I focus on the fact that God loves me and has forgiven me of all my sins. When I do, the Holy Spirit uses scripture to speak to me about areas in my life that God wants to change. Sometimes he wants to speak to me about faithfulness, thankfulness, or patience, for example. I have found it is always darkest before the dawn. God always seems to allow me to go through a difficult time before a wonderful blessing comes.
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Are you discouraged and are you blue. Are clouds obscuring the sun from view? Keep trusting Jesus tho' storms assail, you have His promise He will not fail. It is always darkest before the dawn, don't be discouraged but carry on; He'll not forsake you, the sun will break through, it's always darkest before the dawn.
He knows your heartache, He undersatnds, just put your problem in His great hands; no trouble meets you but in His will, He's not forgotten He loves you still. It is always darkest before the dawn, don't be discouraged but carry on; He'll not forsake you, the sun will break through, it's always darkest before the dawn.
John W. Peterson, "It's Always Darkest Before The Dawn." |
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