That Was Then

That Was Then. This is Now.

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:18-19

“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift of God, which is why we call it the present.”
― Bill Keane, author of the Family Circus

We black sheep, scapegoats, never-do-wells and similar types dwell in the past. We immerse ourselves in it. Punish ourselves with it like a whipping. It’s so hard to see ourselves as forgiven, beloved, with purpose. Why? I’m going to go with Introjection: an unconscious adoption of the ideas or attitudes of others. “Fully absorbing and internalizing negative information about themselves without discerning if the data is accurate.” Ginger Lapid-Bogda

A ten-dollar word for a priceless lesson. “When you know who you are; you know who you aren’t.” We picked up many labels like loose change and made them ours. Internalized. Brought to fruition. But we aren’t those things, especially after becoming a New Creation in Christ. Do we stumble? Yes, God said we would but it would not be fatal. Will others criticize, condemn or jeer? Yes, they did this to our savior. But every time these things happen to us, we need to remember who we are in Christ. Present. With loads of grace.

Musings

One of my favorite phrases is, “I’m so stupid.” It goes way back. I reject myself before others get a shot! There are other denigrating phrases that I use to put down myself and it hurts. The other side of this is that I start thinking that way about others. I don’t have “a clear eye” when I let these trolls live in my head. I don’t have a compassionate heart for myself and others.

Prayer

Dear Father,

 Thank you that we are beloved. We have grace. We can nip those critical, judgmental, parental voices in our heads and make room for your voice. When we know who we are in you, we know who we aren’t. May we share this with confidence. May we speak boldly yet gently. May we immerse ourselves in how deeply loved we truly are.

Amen.