Breaking Off From The Past

Breaking Off From The Past

It is good news to know that God's will for His children is to move forward in life and not attached to the past. "And the Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward".  We must therefore not accept failure since it is not God's will for us. Instead, we must break loose from all the haunting shadow of past failures and lay the foundation for a new start of faith.  Whatever is your present state is not the issue; rather, it is whether you are willing to break off and set out on a new course by faith. Jabez who found himself in a position of failure and set back in life ascended out of that valley to the summit of success and honour. This was possible because he decided to make the necessary turn-around. As you also follow this scriptural pattern, total uplift and promotion will surely come your ways (I Chronicles 4:9-10; Isaiah 43:18-19; Jeremiah 29:11; Psalm 126:1-3).

The Fruitless Past:  If your past performances and/or experiences have been unsatisfactory, you need real determination to break off from it and summon enough courage to forge ahead with new hope.  This is because such fruitless past can pose as a haunting shadow, paralyzing any new plans, initiatives and attempts if allowed.  The secret of the breakthrough experienced by Joseph, Jabez, Ruth and others was the fact that they were able to cast their past behind them and harness themselves with new hope.  This is exactly what you must do. You may have been faced with one or more setbacks such as failures, bereavement, recurring illness, inadequate finance, low Intelligence Quotient (IQ), disability, frequent family re-location, indifferent parents/guardians and even persecutions. Cast the past behind you and be prepared to make a fresh move (I Chronicles 4:9; Ruth 1:1-5).

A Fresh Beginning:  Whatever kind of failure or setback you might have experienced, be determined to kick-start yourself in a new hope of success and you will not be disappointed. The following principles will be of help.

i.     Be regular and punctual at school. Participate actively in each class session and ask questions when necessary.

ii.    Endeavour to understand the fundamentals of each subject.

iii.   keep a comprehensive jotter of each class work and revise it within 48 hours of lecture. The quicker you do this the better for your recollection and retentive ability.

iv.   Study the textbooks to enrich your learning from personal jotter and the teacher's note.

v.    Have a right mental attitude towards each subject and teacher, and ignore the negative comments of others about them.

vi.   Maintain a workable personal timetable and follow it without distractions.

vii.  Participate in group studies and consult frequently with those who know better than you.

viii. Develop and make use of acronyms, mnemonics and other memory aids to boost your retention.

ix.   Learn to write fast. Sometimes, some students who have enough knowledge to pass an examination still failed because of their inability to attempt enough questions within the time allowed.

x.    Learn to adjust to moderate hardships brought about by sudden changes (e.g. trekking to and from school, leaving parents to live with relatives, and so on).

xi.   Be purposeful like Daniel. Your determination to succeed must remain resolute. Where there is the will there is always the way.

xii.  Use your school or the public library if available to gain access to study materials you do not have.  You can also borrow from friends.

xiii. Where possible, engage in an income-generating venture after school and on weekends to provide additional funds, but not at the expense of school assignments.

xiv. Pray and trust God for wisdom and help, especially in cases of low IQ, disability and frequent illnesses.

xv.  Consult godly church leaders for counseling, guidance and prayers, especially in cases of persecution (I Chronicles 4:10; Ruth 1:16-22; Proverbs 22:29; Ecclesiastes 9:10; 11:4-6).

A Fruitful Future:  "Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert". Whatever your past has been, you can always look forward to a brighter future.  As you do, your God has promised you divine assistance. As you start out with Him in faith, therefore, be rest assured that your future is as bright as the sunlight. However, take constant care to ensure you maintain an unbroken relationship with Him at all times. In case you have not yet handed your life over to Christ, this is the time to do so. Your success in life is not compete without a living relationship with your Maker. The starting point for you, therefore, is to hand over the control of your life to Him without delay. You can then pray, trust God and claim His promises. Success and promotion are on your way in Jesus' name (Isaiah 43:18-19; 45:2; Jeremiah 29:11; Psalm 126:1-3).