Forgetting what lies behind

by: carole l. haines

Moving things around a bit at the house, I have so many journals I have filled over the years, going all the way back to my high school and college years. Journals filled with all I thought I would be, all I thought I would do. I even have a journal entry for when I knew my husband was “the one.” It’s so hard to let go of the past. To let go of dreams and hopes.  It’s like throwing a part of yourself away.  Paul tells us in Philippians 3:

But I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. ¹³ Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (vs 12b-14 NASB)
Some things just have to go. We can’t become who Christ calls us to be, if we still have our own hopes and dreams.  Not that there isn’t some overlap in there, as God has given us abilities, likes, talents, and skills.  God made us each unique. He’s been blessing my heart with the knowledge that He is enough for me, and I am enough for the things He has called me to.  He tells us in His Word that He makes us adequate for the ministry He calls us to.
⁴ Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. ⁵ Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, ⁶ who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant. (2 Corinthians 3:4-6a NASB)
So letting go of my own hopes and dreams for my life, and embracing the precious opportunities that God brings forth instead; has been a journey of surprise, disappointment, amazement, and overflowing joy.  I love what I do for a job right now, but I never once thought about doing this, when I was dreaming my girlish dreams. God knows best, He truly does. His dreams for us far outweigh any we may have for ourselves.  Lay down your dreams, and take up His call.
He is able to do exceedingly abundant, beyond all that we ask, think, or even dare to imagine.  (Eph. 3:20 NASB)