Forget the Past and Experience God’s Best!

The Bible encourages us to forget the past and experience God’s best. No matter what mistakes or regrets you carry, God calls you to look ahead with faith, hope, and expectancy for His blessings.

How have things been in your life lately? Have you been seeing clouds or sunshine? Are you filled with despair or hope? How do you look at yourself—through the lens of failure or through the promises of God? 

The truth is that we usually see what we prepare ourselves to see, even if it doesn’t reflect reality. Just as when you shop for a car and suddenly notice that model everywhere, the same principle applies to how you view your life. If you focus on regret, you’ll only see regret. If you focus on hope, you’ll begin to see opportunity.

How Do You See Yourself?

If your self-image is trapped inside past mistakes, you’ll always see failure staring back at you. But if you prepare your heart for hope and opportunity, that’s what will shape your outlook. 

The Apostle Paul gives us timeless wisdom in Philippians 3:12–13 (NLT): “No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.”

Even though forgetting the past may be difficult, Paul reminds us that it no longer has to hold you hostage.

Why It’s Important to Forget the Past

Here are three biblical reasons why God tells us not to look back but to keep moving forward: 

• Looking back encourages the possibility of going back. Jesus said, “But Jesus said to him, ‘No one having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God’” (Luke 9:62)
• Looking back can paralyze forward progress. The angels told Lot and his wife, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you” (Genesis 19:17).
• Looking back is against God’s Word. When Israel faced the Red Sea, the Lord told Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward” (Exodus 14:15).

Each example reminds us: faith faces forward. To live in God’s best, your eyes must be on His promises, not your past.

Resources to Help You Move Forward

The good news is that you don’t have to walk this road alone. God has given you His Spirit, His Word, and His people to help you grow. At Inspiration Ministries, we’ve created resources to help you take the next step in your faith journey:

• Spiritual Growth Hub – Online courses designed to help you deepen your walk with Christ and live in victory.
• Strengthen Your Walk™ Video Series – Practical, encouraging teaching videos to guide you as you apply God’s truth in your everyday life.
• Daily Devotions – Fresh encouragement from Scripture to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus and His promises.
• INSPIRATION Today Newsletter – Free daily email featuring a devotion, Strengthen Your Walk™ video, articles, prayer, and more.

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Don’t stay stuck in the past—step into the future God has for you! Let go of regret, trust His promises, and receive His best for your life by giving your heart fully to Jesus today.