Choices

 

In a recent televised sermon, T. D. Jakes said, “I am not defined by my past; I am defined by my future.”

 

Daily, we are becoming the person we choose to be.  Amen, Mr. Jakes!  The failures of my past only define me if I am unable to learn and turn.  The successes of my past only define me, if I camp out there and stop growing and moving ever forward. 

The devil likes to remind me of my past mistakes and he often uses people to remind me.  I simply tell him, “It is written… I am forgiven (I John 1:9) and I have been redeemed (Gal. 3:13) and My Lord will make ALL things work together for my good (Rom. 8:28).  And when it comes to people’s condemnation, I simply and sincerely say, “I have asked for my Lord’s forgiveness and if this (event/choice, etc.) has offended or harmed you, please forgive me.”  If they don’t – that is between them and their Lord.  I cannot fix that.  I can bless them, hold up my head and walk on.  Jesus has forgiven me, I am accepted in the beloved (Eph. 1:6).

Even the best, most-accomplished people, with long track records of successes have lives punctuated by slips, slides and mini-turnarounds.  That is why the ability to recover quickly and get back on course is so important. 

I believe the ability to recover quickly comes from these ingredients: 

(1)   Confidence in who He is; Confidence in the Truth of His word and promises; Confidence in who we are in Him; Confidence in the fact that you are forgiven and He is for you (who can be against you?); Confidence in your support system.  Confidence is built on relationship. 

(2)   The culture and support system that surrounds us motivates us to make the extra push that can provide the needed margin for victory.  It was not legalism or religion that Paul spoke about when he said that we were not to forsake gathering together.  We need each other.  Resilience is not simply and individual characteristic or a psychological phenomenon.  It is helped or hindered by the surrounding support system.

(3) Changing our mind and what we believe about ourselves.  Self-condemnation is rampant in most believers’ lives.  We must recognize it and stop it.  Self-justification and self-righteousness is also rampant.  Any focus on “self” is a focus toward failure.  Look these references up in your Bible (Gen 6:5; Pr 15:22; Isa 55:7 & 59:7; Jer. 4:14; Matt 15:19; I Cor. 13:5; Gal 5:19; Phil 4:8).  Learn what God’s word says about our thought life.

(4)  Grace!  It is His Grace that gives me the ability and the power to do that which I cannot do.  It is Grace that went with Abraham and Isaac up the mountain of sacrifice.  It is Grace the walked the hill to Calvary.  It was Grace that was sufficient for Paul’s weakness (infirmity).  It is Grace that saved my dying soul and Grace that will take me through.

We are not defined by our past.  We are defined, beloved, by the choices we make today.