August 19th, 2023
by Dr. Ron Harvey
by Dr. Ron Harvey
You will recall that in my last writing I urged you to—Receive today as a gift from Almighty God. Rejoice in it! Highly regard it! Do as the psalmist says:
“This is the day the LORD has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24 NKJV).
The Apostle Paul instructs us to Put our hope in God “who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment” (1 Timothy 6:17).
If we will begin each day with the Lord and experience the day with Him, then He will fill our day with enjoyment and enrichment. Yes, there will be difficult days and dark times, but still our lives will be better and richer if we will obey this command. Remember the powerful words of Jesus for those who would follow Him: “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). So receive today as a gift from Almighty God!
Here is a word of warning regarding this subject: You are not going to be able to enjoy today unless you let go of yesterday. You must learn to—Let go of past things. Trust me on this: Your past can become your greatest enemy. If you would choose to rejoice today then you are going to have to forgive and forget some things from yesterday. Past things can rob you of any enjoyment of present things. I think that is one reason why Paul said, “Forgetting those things which are behind…” (Philippians 3:13).
You may be thinking that is not easy to do. I get it. I would think that neither was it easy for Paul. His past included intolerance, ignorance, arrogance, hatred, cruelty and even murder (Remember Stephen’s death). However, Paul learned to look beyond the image of Stephen’s martyred death to Jesus’ sacrificial death. We, as well, must learn to look to the cross and find forgiveness.
Many have been crippled by carrying in their conscience past blunders. If you would salvage today then you must lay at the foot of the cross your burdens of failure. I think it was Corrie Ten Boom who said, “Don’t be trying to bring before His face that which He cast behind His back.” Good advice!
By the way, the Apostle Paul also put behind himself the offenses by others aimed at him which had hurt him. Paul had been falsely imprisoned, wrongfully stoned and routinely mistreated by the time he wrote the words, “Forgetting those things which are behind…” Paul had learned to let go of these past things too! This is the kind of thing we must do! You are not going to be able to enjoy today unless you let go of past things. Let it go! Enjoy today!
Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron
“This is the day the LORD has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24 NKJV).
The Apostle Paul instructs us to Put our hope in God “who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment” (1 Timothy 6:17).
If we will begin each day with the Lord and experience the day with Him, then He will fill our day with enjoyment and enrichment. Yes, there will be difficult days and dark times, but still our lives will be better and richer if we will obey this command. Remember the powerful words of Jesus for those who would follow Him: “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). So receive today as a gift from Almighty God!
Here is a word of warning regarding this subject: You are not going to be able to enjoy today unless you let go of yesterday. You must learn to—Let go of past things. Trust me on this: Your past can become your greatest enemy. If you would choose to rejoice today then you are going to have to forgive and forget some things from yesterday. Past things can rob you of any enjoyment of present things. I think that is one reason why Paul said, “Forgetting those things which are behind…” (Philippians 3:13).
You may be thinking that is not easy to do. I get it. I would think that neither was it easy for Paul. His past included intolerance, ignorance, arrogance, hatred, cruelty and even murder (Remember Stephen’s death). However, Paul learned to look beyond the image of Stephen’s martyred death to Jesus’ sacrificial death. We, as well, must learn to look to the cross and find forgiveness.
Many have been crippled by carrying in their conscience past blunders. If you would salvage today then you must lay at the foot of the cross your burdens of failure. I think it was Corrie Ten Boom who said, “Don’t be trying to bring before His face that which He cast behind His back.” Good advice!
By the way, the Apostle Paul also put behind himself the offenses by others aimed at him which had hurt him. Paul had been falsely imprisoned, wrongfully stoned and routinely mistreated by the time he wrote the words, “Forgetting those things which are behind…” Paul had learned to let go of these past things too! This is the kind of thing we must do! You are not going to be able to enjoy today unless you let go of past things. Let it go! Enjoy today!
Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron
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