Comments
Jim
on 07/29/2022 at 10:23 PM
WOW! Couldn’t ask for a more encouraging words as today. Thought I know it’s hard not to forget our past/ mistakes or situations, but it’s a must to be able to go forward. Yes sometimes it’s easier said then done. But remember your God, my God is greater then any situation of our past. Stand strong and firm, Job did and look at his outcome. I don’t claim to have ever answer, but I have been learning more to lean on Jesus and stop to worry. Worship and praise the Lord in the middle of your storm, and watch the enemy run. God bless the writer of this devotional and my brothers and sisters reading this devotional.
Justin Tillis
on 07/29/2022 at 09:34 PM
My goal for today is to be better than I was yesterday…a better man, husband and father. Spend some time with God.
Old Dude
on 07/29/2022 at 05:23 PM
Tommy, thank you for your testimony.
Alex W
on 07/29/2022 at 05:21 PM
I'm teaching an accounting class this summer as part of my graduate school program, and something we covered in the past week was differentiating between sunk costs and relevant costs.
Our past is a sunk cost because we can't change it no matter what we do. What's relevant to our present and future is the decisions we make that put us in position to be successful going forward.
God has forgiven our past trangressions, so all we can do now is keep moving in the right direction down the path He has made for us. There's a reason the front windshield is bigger than the rearview mirror!
Bryan Snellenberger
on 07/29/2022 at 04:39 PM
Wow, great words for today. Personally I still struggle with this. It’s comforting to realize I’m not alone as most men here are dealing with the same issue. My prayer is for us to be more focused on God and the path He has for us.
joe kelley
on 07/29/2022 at 04:10 PM
Amen, just keep praying and looking forward.
Jerome
on 07/29/2022 at 03:38 PM
I have difficulty with my past as well. Although it is not as bad as it used to be, I am still occasionally haunted by transgressions committed by me and those committed against me. I take comfort in Isaiah 43:18 - "Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past". Easier said than done, let the past go and count your blessings today. Praise Jesus!
T
on 07/29/2022 at 03:29 PM
Tommy your testimony is right on in areas of my life. The more I wallowed the dirtier I got. I became focused on my failures and had difficulty seeing what God saw in me. Then God began to change my viewpoint. I may stumble and fall from time to time, but I am learning that He is passionate for me and in those times of failure He is still right there encouraging me to-get back up. Thank you all for how you have ministered to me with all your comments.
Steve
on 07/29/2022 at 02:57 PM
I struggle with this too. The older I get, the more clearly I remember so many of my foolish thoughts words and deeds from years gone by. I find myself carrying guilt and shame that was already paid for on the cross. I’ve also found that asking for forgiveness again and again is not what He wants. He taught me that Instead of asking for forgiveness again, I should praise him for forgiving me already. The scripture says if we confess our sins He will forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. He bought our peace and carried our shame. Let us praise Him with all heart!
Ashley Jarvis
on 07/29/2022 at 02:49 PM
My goal for today? To be better than yesterday. I’m in a competitive industry where the normal reference to others is “the competition”, and specifically to another “your competitor”. If there’s only one thing I could pick to help insure someone knew in my industry’s success, is to never call them “competitors”… The only true competitor we will ever have in our lives, is that man in the mirror each morning. We must HONESTLY ask ourselves, “How am I going to be a better man today, than you were yesterday?”. The biggest obstacle to progress we have in life, and business, is that we tend to focus on others when it comes to criticism, and then focus on ourselves when it comes to who we’re of service to. Just like everything I’ve learned thus far in trying to follow Jesus’s example, I must flip this completely around. I must look to myself and be honest about my faults and I’m falling short of God’s will for me, and then look to others for who I can serve. Healing from yesterday and yesteryears events, begins with being honest with myself how I can get further from the actions that caused them, amen 🙏🏻
Brandon Pembleton
on 07/29/2022 at 02:36 PM
I love this reading this morning fellas!!
Man I have struggled in this department many many times. I still will find myself struggling here if I don't stay focused on God and God's direction to be in the moment. Peering into the past can have some utility of course. Learning from one's mistakes or using one's mistakes to show another just because you made them you don't have to stay there sort of thing. My past is filled with trauma and tragedy. A lot of which I had a strong hand in. These are my greatest tools to fight evil with today. That's the purpose for all of the bad I have been through is it all can be used to help another person heal. For if I (a regular dude not anymore talented than anyone else) can let it go and leave it back in the past to focus on the moment and to live everyday in God's light - anyone can. Thank you God for saving me and allowing all who wish to serve you today peace in their life. Amen 🙌
Justin R. Fernandez
on 07/29/2022 at 02:29 PM
Amen to this! We move forward not behind, Our sights are on the Lord, and we run this race together brothers!
John
on 07/29/2022 at 02:19 PM
We can’t do anything about what’s already happened. Yesterdays failures are behind us and we need to forget them and move on. Today is a new day and through our Lord we can build on -not rest on - our past successes. Today is a new day, a fresh start, and beautiful. I am so grateful God has given us all another day!
Boyce Moses
on 07/29/2022 at 02:04 PM
Let us press forward everyday and work to be s better man today than we were yesterday. Every yesterday was a learning experience to prepare us for today. Thank God for every day. Love you Jesus! 🤍❤️💚❤️
Brian
on 07/29/2022 at 01:17 PM
Tommy Thxs for your testimony I'm originally from Phoenix 😜 The lord loves us and if we can understand that we would realize he's forgiven us before we stumble it's us who hold on to are past / jesussaves
Tommy Williamson
on 07/29/2022 at 12:31 PM
You can not win a race by looking back over your shoulder to see who is coming up behind you. You must stay focused on the goal and do the best you can. You also can not win by staying down if you stubble and faulted, then lay yourself lay there and wallow in yourself doubt. You have to pick yourself or let others help you up and start moving forward once again. Many times in my race I have let my self stubble and fall by the wayside, letting either my addition to porn, lust, masterbation or gambling get the best of me. At one point I let myself wallow in my own pity so that I was just hours away from being out on the streets homeless and without a penny in my pocket in the middle of one of the most brutal winters our area had ever seen. However a knock came on my door and I found myself face to face with the new pastor of the church that I went. While I had yet to meet him he came to me answering God’s call, I gave my heart back to God and the pastors family took me in until I could get enough money together to move to the Phoenix area where my family had moved. Yes I continue to stumble and fault but I have set my goal on getting to heaven and nothing can change that goal now.
Chris Lewis
on 07/29/2022 at 10:19 AM
Amen. Speak to me Lord. Your servant is listening.
210/365: Set Your Sights Ahead
One thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. ~ Philippians 3: 13b-14
Yesterday is history, so don't get caught up in what should have happened. Dwelling on the past can suck the blessing out of today.
God has moved you into this moment to reveal Himself anew. Focus on Him and His truth as a worthwhile journey and destination.
Set your goal, write it down, give it to your brothers, be accountable, lace up your boots, soak your journey in prayer, get up, and get moving.
GO DEEPER: Habakkuk 2: 1-4
Next Step: What is your goal for this day?