“Bitterness requires that you live in the past; hope requires that you live for tomorrow.”

A thought Erwin Raphael McManus (2003-09-04) from his book, Uprising: A Revolution of the Soul (Kindle Locations 1722-1723). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.

This is totally different from where I have been reading. Where I was reading today in this book was for me in my life and I then felt I needed to go back and I found this thought. This thought is for you. You must be living in a life of no hope, living a backward focus life of despair, of bitterness and of deep pain. Just like all of those people in the Gospels who were damaged when Jesus passed by who were healed when they reach out to Jesus and He then stopped and touched their hurt. Jesus wants to do the same for you today.

So what situation in your past are you focusing on which produces your bitterness? Are you tired of living with no hope, living in pain, living with such bitterness? Then you are going to need to let go of your past and look to God for your hope for your future. It is a total change of focus. It starts inside of you. Just let it go. Forgive them through God’s grace.

Yes, they hurt you; yes, you deserve to be bitter; yes, life can be rough; yes, Jesus could have been bitter; yes, He was killed unjustly. But He didn’t put His focus on what they did but upon His Father’s plan for His life. Remember what He said? He said, “Father, forgive them.” He didn’t waste His time in the past. He had more important things to do and so do you.

So why don’t you start enjoying your life today? Just change your focus off of that person who hurt you to the person who wants to save you. Let Jesus have control of your life, not that person in your past. Just let Jesus free you of your past. Your past is past. Let Him give you the hope of your future.

Why don’t you do it right now?

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