I often enjoy watching sermons from different pastors as part of my personal quiet time. Earlier this week I decided to watch the most recent sermon from Steven Furtick at Elevation Church. If you're familiar with Furtick, you know that he can be quiet enthusiastic at times, and often enjoys using jokes as a way to get his point across. I was tracking well with what had Furtick to say, when he said something that caught me a little off guard: "We often have our head so far up our past that we can't see our future."

After the initial laughter because of the pun that was made, I stopped to reflect upon the truth that the statement held. I began thinking about how I am often guilty of this in my own life. I go back in time to criticize mistakes that I have made, wondering how things could have played out differently. I also tend to go back and fixate on the wrongs that other people have done against me. The past isn't inherently bad; it contains all of the events over our lifespan that lead up to who we are today, and it is most certainly healthy and can bring joy when we reflect on those events. However, the issue comes when the past begins to consume our everyday thoughts. When we continually fixate on what already has, it hinders our ability to look toward what is yet to be. This fixation clouds our vision, and instead of being joyful for the future, we are filled with bitterness, anger, regret, and shame.

In Philippians 2, Paul is explaining how his accomplishments, the feats that the world says make him worthy and important, are absolute garbage in comparison to knowing who Jesus is. He then states that knowing Christ is his goal, and in verses 13 and 14 says "Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what it behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize of which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Look at this verse, read it over a few times, process it. Then answer this question: is your head so far in your past, that it is hindering you from straining towards that which God has called you? Are you continuing to be bound and chained by bitterness, anger, hurt, regret and shame? I highly encourage you to truly reflect on these questions; the past may be stealing your joy and you don't even recognize it.

Memories are a blessing, and it is truly wonderful that we can look back on all of the moments that have shaped us into the people we are at this very moment. But, just like everything else in our lives, it can quickly turn from a blessing to something that hinders our ability to see and hear God in our lives, and feel the joy that He can provide in our lives. God has incredible people, places, events, and moments in store for each of us. Get your head out of your past, and refuse to let it hinder your eager expectation as you look toward what it ahead.

Steven Furtick's message: