Embrace Your Past Experiences - Good and Bad - because of pain, many people deny their past, ignore their past, discount their past, regret their past, or resent their past. You have to embrace the experiences of your life - the good ones, the bad ones, the shameful ones, the right ones, the wrong ones, the happy ones, and the sad ones. God can use every experience for good, but you’ve got to stop running from them. In the dark times of your life, know that God is still working for your good

“Remember today what you have learned about the Lord through your experiences with him.” - Deuteronomy 11:2 (GNT)

Do you want God to use your past for good? 

Then you have to embrace the experiences of your life — the good ones, the bad ones, the shameful ones, the right ones, the wrong ones, the happy ones, and the sad ones

And stop running from your past.

Galatians 3:4 says, “Were all your experiences wasted? I hope not!” (NCV).

Don’t run away from your past! 

Because of pain, many people deny their past, ignore their past, discount their past, regret their past, or resent their past. 

They revise their past and make up stories because they’re happier dealing with a lie than the pain of the past. 

But when you’re in denial, God can’t use your experiences for good.

God can use every experience in your life for good, but you’ve got to stop running from them; you have to embrace them. 

Maybe your parents weren’t very loving, maybe you weren’t that great in school, maybe you weren’t the football captain or the prom queen. 

So what? 

They’re your experiences. Own them.

Stop pushing the bad experiences out of your mind.

Instead, you’ve got to remember them. 

Deuteronomy 11:2 says, “Remember today what you have learned about the LORD through your experiences with him” (GNT).

In other words, remember the lessons your experiences have taught you. 

How do you do that? 

The best way to remember the lessons and experiences of your life is to keep a journal. 

I’m not talking about a diary. 

A diary is a daily list of what you did:

Today I went to the store and bought milk.” 

With a journal, you don’t necessarily write in it every day. 

But every time you have an important lesson, you write it down so you won’t forget it:

“That was painful. I learned that the hard way. I don’t want to forget that.”

To remember what you’ve learned about God, keep a journal. 

Then you can look back and remember what God taught you.

In the dark times of your life, you can be encouraged and know that God is still working for your good.

Talk It Over

What do you do to remember how God has been faithful to you and answered your prayers?

If you prefer not to write, what are some other ways you can journal or keep some other kind of record of God’s lessons?

What experience from your past do you need to embrace so God can start using it for good?

Will you follow Jesus today?

God proved his goodness through his Son, Jesus Christ.

The Bible says, “For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” - (John 3:16 CSB).

Are you ready to trust God to fulfill his promise of eternal life? 

If so, start by praying this simple prayer: “Dear God, I believe Jesus Christ is your Son. 

"I confess I have sinned, and I ask for your forgiveness. 

"I believe that Jesus died to take away my sins and that you raised him to life.

"I want to trust Jesus as my Savior and follow him as Lord from this day forward. 

"Guide my life and help me to do your will. 

"In Jesus’ name I pray. 

"Amen.”

If you just prayed to accept Jesus, please email me at  Rick@PastorRick.com and let me know about it. 

I’d like to send you some free materials to help you start your journey with Jesus.

By Rick Warren

Daily Hope with Rick Warren

FROM SHAPED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Rick Warren was born in San Jose, California and earned a Bachelor of Arts from California Baptist University, a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary. He and his wife Kay founded Saddleback Church when he was just 26 years old and he continues to serve as the senior pastor. To many, he is Pastor Rick, but to his church, he is Papa Rick—a voice of wisdom, hope, encouragement, and vision.

purposedriven.com

You might also like:

Avoiding the Rearview Mirror - your past is not your future. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done, who you’ve done it with, or how long you’ve done it. Throughout Scripture, God forgives murderers, adulterers, and slackers, and he uses them to do his work in the world. You, too, have a great future ahead of you. Put your heart right, reach out to God, and face the world again. And then let God do something incredible through you

Leaving Your Past Behind - when you repent of your sins, forgive others, and ask God for a breakthrough or new beginning, He forgives and forgets your past. You become a “new creation” in Christ. Your past sins — ALL of them — have been covered by the blood of Jesus. God declares His desire to give us a fresh start when we need a breakthrough. No matter what has happened in your past, you’re now serving the One who makes ALL things new

Remember Not the Former Things - we are encouraged to keep our eyes focused on the Author and Finisher of the faith so that we will be able to run the race He has set before us. We can remember not the former things or consider the things of old. The former things have passed away and new things are coming. God always keeps those commitments. God will resolve our past and redeem us for a life of newness, hope, purpose, and joy