Philippians 3:13-15
[13] Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do , forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, [14] I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. [15] Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
Paul was formerly a persecutor of Christians. He is speaking from that experience in Phil 3.
Is there something in your past that you have not gotten over? Is there anything you’re holding on to?
Luke 9:62
[62] And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
Isaiah 43:18-19,25
[18] Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. [19] Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. [25] I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.
If the enemy can convince you to live with a victim mindset, he is setting you up to walk in offense. And offense hinders you from living in peace. It’s a trap.
Isaiah 42:9-10
[9] Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them. [10] Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.
Job 11:13-17
[13] If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him; [14] If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles. [15] For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear: [16] Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away: [17] And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.
Genesis 41:51
[51] And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he , hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house.
Is there something in your past that you need to release to God and forget?
The only way the past can affect your future is if you choose not to let go of it. Don’t let your history determine your destiny.
When you choose not to let something go, you don’t have that thing, it has you.
Genesis 45:4-5
[4] And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. [5] Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.
Genesis 50:17-20
[17] So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him. [18] And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants. [19] And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? [20] But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
Genesis 41:51
[51] And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he , hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house.
Joseph’s ability to forget and let things go from his past allowed him to reach his destiny. If anyone had a reason to be offended, it was Joseph. Because he was favored by his father, his brothers sold him into slavery and then told their father Joseph was dead. Joseph didn’t let it determine where he was going in life. God took what was meant for evil and turned it for good.
2 Corinthians 10:3-6
[3] For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: [4] (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) [5] Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; [6] And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.