"Yesterday"

So many things I could have done,

A second language learned,

But soon as that last test I took,

I never was concerned.

I could have eaten healthier,

And worked off extra weight,

But guess I like the gravy,

If food was fried I ate.

If wiser with my money,

I’d have saved, be set,

But I’m still on a budget,

Take care with what I get.

If only I’d been stronger,

And better than I was,

There would have been less heartbreak,

I was at fault because,

I let my old selfishness,

Get the best of me,

If I could do it over,

I surely would, you see.

But all of my if onlys,

And all I could haves, too,

I’ve given them to Jesus,

He forgave me through and through.

No hope for better yesterday,

But today is Jesus’ gift,

And all of those stuck in the past,

He will by His grace lift.

There’s still some things that I can do,

The Spirit says okay,

And when filled by the Spirit,

I maximize the day.

His strength is made perfect,

Though weak I am made strong,

Jesus is my Lord, you see,

And yesterday is gone.

“…But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14, NIV)

Paul speaks of forgetting what is behind. What did he mean by this? None of us can literally forget what has gone before nor should we. Our past is what God used to bring us to today. It’s part of our testimony that should be shared in order to give hope to others. So what did Paul mean? I believe he meant that he would not allow the past to have control of his life anymore. He surrendered the past so that he could live for Jesus today. This enabled him press onward toward the ultimate goal of heaven. Forgetting means letting your history go so that it does not steal your destiny.

Lord, help us to put the past behind us, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Bill Anton, billantonstudios.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Bill, and God bless you.