Freedom in Forgetting

Freedom in Forgetting TODAY’S SCRIPTURE “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.” (Isaiah 43:18, NIV) TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria The Bible tells us that every person, no matter how much faith they have or how good they are, will face disappointments. It may be something simple like not getting a promotion you hoped for, or not closing a business deal you worked so hard on. Maybe you didn’t qualify for a house you really wanted, or maybe something more serious happened like a relationship not working out, the death of a loved one, or some kind of illness in your body. Whatever it may be, the reality is that we’re all going to suffer some setbacks. No matter what has happened, one of the main keys to overcoming disappointments is learning to let go of the past. If you feel “stuck” today, you may want to examine what you’re holding on to. Be willing let go of past disappointments by choosing forgiveness. Who hurt you? Who wronged you? Release it to God. Do you need to forgive yourself? Do you need to receive God’s forgiveness? Let go of the past so you can overcome disappointments and experience the bright future God has in store for you! There is freedom in forgetting! A PRAYER FOR TODAY Father, search my heart and mind today. Show me any area where I may be holding on to the past. Help me receive Your forgiveness so that I can extend forgiveness to others and forget the former things and move forward in Your blessing in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Do You See Others the Way Jesus Does?

BY RICK WARREN — JULY 1, 2014

“When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.” (Mark 6:34 NIV)

The best way to know that you’re looking at life from God’s viewpoint is to look at the way you see other people.

It’s the number one test of your spiritual maturity — not how much Bible you know, or how often you go to church, or whether you serve or tithe or pray but your relationships and how you see other people. Because life is all about love!

So let me ask you some pointed questions. How does God see your spouse? Valuable. Acceptable. Lovable. Forgivable. Is that the way you see your spouse? Do you see your spouse the way God does?

How about the stranger at the grocery store? The person who cut you off in traffic? The beggar on the street? What do you see when you look at other people? Do you see them as irritations? Do you see them as burdens?

Do you see the people you work with as enemies? Do you see them as competition? Or do you see them the way God sees them?

Every person matters to God. It doesn’t matter who they are or what they’ve done or even what they believe. Christ died for them, Jesus loves them, God has a plan for their lives, and he wants them to have a relationship with him.

The Bible says in Mark 6:34, “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd” (NIV). That’s the way Jesus sees people.

That’s the way I want you to grow and learn to see people — to not only have compassion for your own family but also for your neighbors and your communities and your country and the whole world. Let your spiritual vision get larger and clearer and stronger as you learn to see people the way Jesus does.

Talk It Over

• What changes about you and your perspective when you start to see other people through God’s eyes?
• How can you show compassion to other people today, particularly in your family? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oDHSbsk2ME