I asked myself what does Paul focus on?
Paul focuses on the prize that comes from following Christ rather than living in the past.

Interpretations:
I asked myself why would Paul mention ‘forgetting what is behind?’
I was reminded of the time that the Apostle Paul was involved in the persecution of Christians including the martyrdom of Stephen.

The apostle could have allowed the past to haunt him and dwell on the mistakes he did but he decides to move on rather than living in the past, by making up his mind to strain toward what is ahead putting His focus on Jesus.

I asked myself what could ‘to strain ahead’ mean?
I was reminded of Paul’s emphasis on the present and future. In the present, he does not look back but looks to the future. It is not effortless though because he strains to look ahead which means it is possible that the memories of the past are fighting with him. But he does not give up! He depends on Jesus to work in him and through him. All the effort on his own without the pardon, purpose, power, promises,  and peace of the Lord would have been fruitless.

I asked myself why does he not give up?
He intends to press on toward the goal to win the prize. It is not any prize but the prize that God has called him heavenward in Christ Jesus. This in itself is so awesome to know because no matter what Paul had done in the past, he is joyful now because of God personally calling him heavenward in Christ Jesus! He is working on putting the past behind. That is exciting to know especially since he is still in prison but does not lose hope!

IMPLICATIONS:
I asked myself what are the implications for my own life here?
The Lord does not want me to live in the past no matter what has happened but to move forward depending on Him and Him alone. Lord knows that my past can haunt me so He uses the Apostle Paul as an example for me to strain ahead to win the prize for which God calls me heavenward in Christ Jesus! Thank you Jesus.

I ask you now dear friends, how can you deal with the P.A.S.T in your life?
Dear friends, I don't know what you are going through friend but Jesus knows. Your past could be as painful as mine especially when what we lost we cannot get back for different reasons or it could be unbearable to think about. Whatever the reason, the Lord Jesus wants to give you hope, help, and healing when you turn to Him and choose to follow what He tells you to do regarding your past so you can take the present he gives you as a present from the Lord looking towards the future with Him by your side. This won't be easy but He will send the right people your way.

You and I need the Lord's help if we want our goal to be to focus on pressing toward the prize that God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus. I know the Lord wants you and me to live in the present and look to the future as we depend on Him  to receive the prize on that day!

Won't you do that friend?

He will bring inner healing in your life to deal with the wounds and scars of your life because He loves you so much and as the song by Wayne Watson goes, "He is the friend of the Wounded Heart" Praise the Lord! I know whatever you are going through, Jesus will help you through it too. One of the best prayer songs I heard is called 'Lord of the Past' by Bob Bennett.

Living in the past can hurt our relationships, our own time with the Lord Jesus, and so many other areas until we surrender everything over to Jesus and decide to serve Him in where He has placed us remembering, "But life is worth nothing unless I use it to do the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus, the work of telling others about God's mighty goodness and love." (Acts 20:24, TLB)

One of my favorite movies is 'Sin Eater' which is reviewed at Pittsburgh Standard in the ENTERTAINMENT archives. It is basically about Jesus who eats the sin away of a girl who cannot seem to live her life anymore because she feels guilty of causing her brother's death. We all face different skeletons of the past but the Lord is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.  He will be there for us.

If Jesus could help me overcome so many things of my past to PARDON me and help me rest in Him in the present to have PURPOSE and help me to look to the future holding on to His PROMISES in His POWER, I know I can have His PEACE in the present. He can do that for you too! Thank you Jesus! What he did for apostle Paul and me, He can do it for you too!

You maybe thinking, he does not know what I have been through or going through because of my past?

Friend, there is no denying that our past can have such a hold on us that sometimes we can just get paralyzed and not move on. The pain and mistakes of the past can be lingering in our minds and the infamous ‘only-if’ starts to rule in us. ‘Only if’ will not change what has happened for me or for you. 'Only if this did not happen in ministry', 'Only if the clutter was not there', 'Only if my children did not get sick that day', 'Only if the COVID-19 was not here', etc will not change the past.

There are things that happened in our lives we had no control of, yet it could be eating us alive as we relive those moments in flashbacks!  Only the Lord Jesus can comfort us when the past haunts us because He wants to be the Lord of our Past.

Other times we are responsible for what happened and that can eat us alive too! The pain can be too much to bear. The Apostle Paul understood that because he had the blood of Stephen on his hands.

What can be worse than having a hand in murdering someone?

The Apostle Paul  was guilty of having a hand in the murder of Stephen when he was known as Saul of Tarsus! Yet in Christ, He was able to come to the point to put the past behind him.

Sometimes it is good to share the past not to dwell in it but so we can finally put it behind us and move on! Other times it is good to deal with it to bring us back to the place where we messed up if restoration can be possible. This is what happened to Joseph's brothers. They were able to relive their past of what they did to Joseph and be reconciled to him when he became governor while they were in his presence as told in the Book of Genesis.

Friend, I don’t know what you are facing and what the past has done to you. I do not know the scars and wounds of the past that you carry. But this I do know, the Lord Jesus Christ knows the pain you have been through and the pain that some things still cause you. He sees your scars and wounds and wants to bring healing in your life. As long as you hold on to the past and dwell in it, you have not opened the door for Jesus to come and be your Healer. He wants to be your Healer whether you were responsible for what happened to you or others were responsible. Oh yes, He wants to heal you where you are at.

This past Wednesday, with my phone call meeting, Pastor Josh, reminded me even if something happened to us unjustly, if we cannot change the situation, there is no point dwelling on 'what was the real reason it happened'. Even if we are responsible there is no point dwelling on it. Dwelling on it will not change it. Instead, we have to leave it to the Lord's sovereignity and rest in Him and His care.

I have learned from Scripture that 'Nothing happens to us without the Lord knowing about it.'

"What the enemy meant for evil, the Lord can turn it out for our good."

When Jairus daughter died, the people were telling to leave Jesus alone because there is no use anymore. Of course, Jesus intervened and said "Don't be afraid, just believe!" Then, He raised Jairus daughter from the dead. How awesome!

Even in our lives, if the Lord chooses to, He can ressurrect us from our past mistakes or give us a better situation than what we missed out on. But the most important thing is not to dwell in the past or look back but to move forward to gain the prize for which God has called us in Christ Jesus!

Dwelling in our past and looking back could have dire consequences, if we are not careful. When Sodom and Gommorah were being destroyed with fire and brimstone for their wickedness, the Lord rescued Lot's family but told them not to look back at the city but to move forward. Sadly, Lot's wife disobeyed by looking back and became a pillar of salt. There is no point for us to add to the mistakes of the past but rest in the Lord Jesus.

When I am down, depressed, and distressed, the Lord takes me to Proverbs 20:24: 'Why try to understand everything that happens along the way when the Lord is directing our steps' 'I will instruct you and guide you along the best pathway for life, I will advise you and watch your progress.' (Psalm 32:8), and 'You are my hiding place from every storm of life. You even keep me from getting into trouble; whenever I am afraid, I will trust in you!' (Psalm 32)

What is amazing about Psalm 32 is that King David was dealing with his own past of commiting adultery and covering that up by having Bathsheeba's husband Uriah killed. He confesses his sin before the Lord and receives assurance of the Lord's touch in His life amidst what he was going through. He could not turn back the hands of time.

You won’t be able to turn back the hands of time but in Christ you can move on. Yes, you can! Don’t let the enemy deceive you into thinking that you messed up so much that there is no hope for you. That is a lie from the pit of hell itself.

No matter what has went wrong whether it is in a relationship, academics, career, ministry, job, etc, Jesus knows about it and wants to help you. When you depend on Him and seek Him, He will open better doors. Things that cannot be changed, the Lord will give you the peace and endurance to get through and enjoy the present He has given you. So that you could look to the future and one day receive the prize the Lord Jesus has for you as you come to Him face to face.

Every time the past comes up, make a conscious decision to focus on Christ and what He has called you to do remembering how much He loves you and 'no good thing will He withhold from those He loves'. Of course, when we think about good things, it is in His terms and not ours. 

No matter what you go through, you can get help from our Lord to strengthen you, guide you, and lead you for His Name's sake! He will be the Lord of Your Past! You can go out in faith and do what you believe the Lord Jesus put you here for! Our Lord Jesus has a plan for you  no matter where you have been or what has been done! Yes, He does! Rest in His Arms of Love.

Freedom From Your Past
by Ramesh C. Reddy

Having trouble with your past?
Don't know how long it will last?
It's eating you up like a bomb's blast?

Cause missed opportunities coming to you to haunt,
Making you hurt and daunt?
No way to keep count?
ANSWER AWAITS, you can in life mount. (Matt 11:28-30)

You cant look back (Philippians 3:13-14)
Cause your self-esteem will lack. (John 14:1)
Life ain't over, though you are under attack (Ephesians 6:11)
And on the wrong track. (Isaiah 30:21)

You think though it is too late (Matt 19:26)
Because you have messed up each Date( day )? (Psalm 50:15)
May make you, yourself hate? (Isaiah 43:1-4)
That is not your fate. (Romans 8:28)
Christ is the Gate! (John 10:9)
Will deliver you from your broken state. (Luke 4:18-19)
Gotta walk by Faith (Hebrews 11:1)
And upon him wait. (Isaiah 40:31)

Jesus has your best interests in mind. (Romans 8:28)
Depending on Him and His Word, will us remind. (Col 3:16)

Loves you so much, for you He died on the pole ( Cross ) (1 Cor 15:3)
Please give him your heart and lets do our role. (Psalm 37:4)
Wonderful to know, each day his Blessings and Mercies are New.
How many situations in the past we blew. (Psa 103:17 & Gal 2:20)
AMEN!

May you rest in the Arms of Love of our Savior who will be the Lord of your past as you put past aside, Savior trusting!

"Past Aside, Savior Trusting! (P.A.S.T)"/"How can you deal with the  P.A.S.T in your life?"

MAKE THIS YOUR PRAYER FOR DELIVERANCE FROM THE PAST!
Thank you Lord Jesus for your amazing love. I love you very much Lord. Oh Lord please help me. When I think things are too late because of the mess that has been made, remind me to hold on to you so you can deliver me. There have been times I feel like I am in a haunted house where bad memories are in control, and each room has its own devilish ghosts. I keep being hurt and getting discouraged. Oh Lord, God of the armies of Heaven please deliver me. Please put me back on the right track. Thank you Lord you will deliver me whatever situation I am facing regardless. Thank you Lord, the past is not my fate. You created me for a special purpose. Thank you  Lord with your Spirit in me, I can and will be able to take control of the haunted  past. Jesus I yield myself and my past, present, and future to you. I surrender my life in your control. I don't want Satan to rule me and make me a prisoner of the past. I want you to be my Master and be Lord of my past! Please Lord whatever your decision is for me, though I may not understand, give me the strength to endure. Thank you Lord, your blessings and mercies are new each day. You speak to me from Isaiah 43:1-3 by saying ___, this is the Lord speaking, " ___ you have been called by Name. ____ you belong to me. ____ you are precious in my sight."( Isaiah 43:1-3)  Thanks Lord Jesus I am called by Name. I am precious in your sight. I belong to you. You will never leave me nor forsake me. IN YOUR NAME I PRAY LORD, THANKING YOU FOR EVERYTHING, AMEN.

You are my all in all. You are my Prince of Peace, Rock, Savior, and Friend. You are my Holy Father guiding me through to live a life of righteousness, holy righteousness. Oh God, I need you more than ever. I need to feel your hands around me holding me tight. I need your love to surround me so that you can glow in my life. Help me please Jesus. I desire in your presence. Thank you for guiding me to live a life of righteousness. Oh God you love me more than ever. You hear my voice when I cry out to you. When I seek your face, you fill me up. You are my all in all. Thank you Jesus so much for your help no matter what I face, your grace is available and you take my case. Thank you for hearing us and answering us. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! AMEN! (Most of the prayer is from a vineyard song called “All in All”