As I have mentioned in the past, God speaks to me clearly in dreams. One morning, after having a dream, I woke up and heard the words, “Stay off memory lane.”  I knew this was a writing. So, I got up and started writing and the following “Whisper” fell on the paper. Stay Off Memory Lane is one of my favorites. I think all of us probably live on “memory lane” too much, so this is a powerful reminder to “strain for what is ahead” and stop looking at bygones and all of our regrets. I hope this writing will be meaningful and encourage you.

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for

which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3: 13-14

Wandering down memory lane seldom takes you to a good destination; rather, you end up on a dead-end street. Meandering through the mire of your past only gets you stuck in your regrets. You detach from My presence and lose your peace and sweetness of spirit. Your joy wanes and your spirit becomes deflated.

Wandering down memory lane seldom takes you to a good destination!

You will never understand why certain people were allowed to cross your path. Some of those people were mean-spirited, backstabbers, betrayers, and deceivers. When you remember those relationships and painful experiences, nothing good comes from the process. Shake off their memory, forgive them, and pray for them. You can never anguish over or despise someone for whom you are sincerely praying. When possible, extend acts of kindness to them. When you love them in spite of the way they treat you, your obedience to Me blesses your life and theirs.

Thinking about the past and worrying about the future

prevents living in the present.

You are given today to enjoy and be a blessing to others. You can only learn to live in the present as you forget about the past and trust Me for tomorrow. Glory in the moment and learn to see joy in all things. Readjust your attitude. See your life from My perspective. Do not hold back in any area of life. Laugh and rejoice for you are a child of the King. Rejoice, I say rejoice and let bygones be bygones! Water under the bridge should no longer be your concern.

Take My hand and let us walk up the path to high ground together. Keep  your eyes fixed on Me, your heart attuned to My heartbeat, and let us scale the heights. Memory lane takes you nowhere, but My path will always take you to peace and joy unspeakable. Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. Your job is to press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called you.