Stop Wallowing, Start Living!

"Our Saviour kneels down and gazes upon the darkest acts of our lives. But rather than recoil in horror, he reaches out in kindness and says, 'I can clean that if you want.' And from the basin of his grace, he scoops a palm full of mercy and washes our sin." Max Lucado

In some recent counseling studies, I've been reminded how vital it is to move on and let go instead of continuing to wallow in the past. This is the quote that I came across when being reminded of this ... "It takes a lot of emotional and psychological energy to keep a wound open, to keep a grudge alive. The longer I allow a wound to fester, the more bitterness, anger and self-pity poison my blood and eat at my heart." -Albert Haase 
I was overwhelmed at first, but then thankful. What if the Lord remebered and reminded me every single day of the mistakes I've made? How can you move on and move forward if you continue to wallow in the pain of the past?

Once we forgive, we need to reconcile and move forward, trying not to look back. There will be days when Satan tries to attack those thoughts and memories of painful experiences and that's why it's vital to spend time in prayer and soak up Scripture. Here are some great Scriptures on forgiveness. Write them down and keep them with you ... when you start to wallow in the past of how others have hurt you, soak them up! Pray over them! Let the healing and moving forward continue.

Matthew 5:44-45
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Matthew 6:9-15
This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Matthew 26:28
This is my blood of the[a] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Mark 2:5
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."

Mark 11:25
And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.

Luke 6:35-38;42
But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." ... How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

Let's make today a fresh start ... a day to stop wallowing in the pain of the past, but a day to move forward, move on and live for Christ (and like Christ).