Forget Your Past Mistakes

Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, who brings out chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick: Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The wild animals will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches; for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people whom I formed for myself so that they might declare my praise. Isaiah 43:16-21 (NRSV)

Amobichukwu Samuel Duruaku is from Rivers State in Nigeria. A few years after completing his civil engineering degree, he prayed and fasted in the hope that God would provide him with a job with a multinational company. God answered him, and he was offered a wonderful opportunity; but it was not exactly what he had hoped for. Naively, Amobichukwu rejected the position.

As years passed, he began to look back in regret. He realized he had missed a great opportunity in the job he rejected. He began to see himself as a failure because he struggled to secure another job and support his family.

But when he came across this scripture, it spoke to him. He decided to forget his past mistakes and move ahead. He had learned his lessons, so he moved on. He chose to believe God's promise, and this brought a new energy to his life.

When we live in the past, we may miss out on greater things. We can learn from our past mistakes, but we shouldn't dwell on them. Similarly, it is good to be happy about our past achievements, but we shouldn't dwell on them either. God is always making things new, and when we place our trust in Christ, we can hold on to the hope of the beautiful things that are still to come.

Prayer: Dear God, give us wisdom not to dwell on our past mistakes. Heal our wounds and do a new thing in our lives, in Jesus' name. Amen.