Isaiah 43:19, "Forget about what's happened; don't keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something brand-new." (MSG)

Think

We must get past our everpresent Past! Thomas Edison had 1,000 failed attempts before successfully inventing the light bulb. Why did he keep pursuing his dream? Because he had a different perspective. He once told a reporter, "I didn't fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps." What if he had let perceived failures block him from his God-given dream? The Bible is full of people God used in powerful ways, despite their failures. Abraham was an idol worshiper, Jacob was a deceiver, David was an adulterer, Peter was a temperamental hot-head and Paul was a former Christian-killer. And, yet, God renewed these fallen individuals and used them to carry out his dreams. Today, God uses people with past failures to create paths toward the future for his purpose. As he does, he deposits dreams and ideas into countless lives that bring renewal and hope for a brand-new tomorrow. So, use your past failures as springboards to catapult you into a better future!

Act

Write a letter to your former self, expressing how you want to forgive yourself for your past mistakes. Then, write a letter to your future self as you promise to not let the past keep you from doing great things in your future.

Pray

Heavenly Father, thank you for not giving up on me. Although I have failed, I know you have forgiven me and can still use me despite my past mistakes. Help me to leave the past behind, and to take the ideas and dreams you've given me and use them for your glory. In Jesus' name, Amen.