Those who love God know the great difference between his unlimited favor and his ultimate favor.”
–Gary Wilkerson

My Mom, the dear lady, spend the last years of her life living in regret. She would think about the things that her family lost during the depression. She would think about the war and mistakes she made through her life. She simply could not let go of the past. One time I was speaking with her and I said, “Mom, surely there must have been some good in the past. Why must you dwell only on the negative?” She didn’t have an answer for me.
Don’t get me wrong. I am a firm believer in the importance of the past. After all I’ve taught history for close to forty years. The past is important for it helps guide our decisions today. The past is important for it can be a cement that binds the family together. The past is important because of memories that move into the present. The past is important for the lessons and experiences that should help us make better decisions in the now. The past points us to the faithfulness of God and therefore gives us hope for today and the future.
However, there are many things in the past that we should let go of. Let the negative go except for the lessons. Let the dirty laundry go, for you are now a new creation. Don’t dwell on the “ifs” and the “what might have beens.” In other words, let it go.
We must remember that God is with us (Immanuel) and He has a plan for us. He is there each step of the way and is preparing a home for us in glory. I want to share something with you that I read this week. It is from Dave Roever. (Want to know a hero of the faith, go to his website. He has an amazing story that shows the faithfulness of God and His grace.)

     “Let It Go!
      It never hurts to be reminded of God’s faithfulness, His provision, and His plan for our lives.

      Healthcare?
      A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. (Proverbs 17:22)

      Tax, tax and more tax? 
      A little that a righteous man has is better than the riches of many wicked. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous. (Psalm 37:16-17)

      Wars raging?
      And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. (Matthew 24:6)

      God is on His throne! God is in control! I am free from fear and doubt.

      Whatever is keeping you from living in the peace God has designed for your life, let it go.”

Truly history is what links the past with the present and the present with the future, but all of the junk–let it go. Do not do things today that can make you live your last days in regret. Do not let the present be wasted so that you will twiddle your thumbs and think of the wasted days of yesterday. Let it go and trust in the Lord.

One stone doesn’t make an entire tower any more than obeying one commandment lifts the soul to the required height of perfection.”
–Gregory of Nyssa

“The world’s gifts are temporary, fleeting, and not really gifts at all, but they do carry a price tag.”
–Bob Beasley

What is it that draws your attention? Is it the bright lights, the action and the atmosphere of the world? Perhaps it is a motion picture, a play, or a concert displaying the ideas, philosophies and worldviews that promote the world. That is not to deny that some in the world have talent. The Fall did not negate talent for man was created in the image of God, however, the Fall did degrade what the talent produced.
When this life is over what legacy will you have left behind? It might be paying the price tag of the world’s gifts. It might be the construction of a life that was pleasing to the Lord; not just keeping one commandment, but obeying the Word of the Lord because we love Him. What did the apostles and early church fathers leave behind? Look at the suffering of Paul and others; were they actually miserable? They left the legacy of their suffering and understood the higher calling.
The idea of God is okay, but many do not want to go any further. The idea of Christ always brings a reaction. Jesus will divide people, nations, family. Religion, including Christianity, has become a tool to help organize world peace. What is not understood is that Christianity can never be “at peace” with the world. How many have compromised in their walk?
Remember, devotion to the prince of this world is one of the most ancient of temptations. We make a choice every day whom we will serve. We choose the way we will walk. We can walk according to the Word of God, or we can walk according to the ways of the world. Be careful of compromise–a little yeast leavens the whole.
“A little leaven (a slight inclination to error, or a few false teachers) leavens the whole lump [it perverts the whole conception of faith or misleads the whole church].”
               –Galatians 5:9 (AMPC)