"Don't let yesterday take too much of today." This quote by Will Rogers is what I am focussing on this year in 2025. What did you bring into 2025 that you do not need?
I was driving down the highway a month ago or so and a song playing on my phone reminded me of someone from the past. He introduced me to the album and I thoroughly enjoyed the lyrics and music, but it made me remember him. There was a tinge of regret inside me and I hated that feeling. I am tired of that and said to myself, "No more in 2025!" In that moment I was frustrated with the reminders of the past and with how much reflection I do. I have an incredible memory, it can be something that brings my emotional state down when dwelling on the unpleasant ones. I have a year-long devotional on the Bible App that most recently has been talking about remembrance. I can dwell on good things or let the past define my mood. A scripture that comes to mind is,
"Ephesians 4:22-24 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."
So I have a choice to dwell on the past or to renew my mind. Old patterns are hard to walk away from yet with Christ comes freedom. When we dwell on the new it changes us. I can let the mistakes of my past define me and cause emotional distress or I can walk in the freedom given to me in Christ. Having reminders of the change in me is what helps the most. People in my life seeing the growth and change and supporting me has been incredible. Listening to what scripture speaks over me and paying attention to what is influencing my mind is most beneficial.
A person I have not spoken to in 1.5 years reached out several weeks ago. I began to speak with them and was able to boldly say what went wrong and how they hurt me. They graciously apologized and it was very healing. Hearing their voice was a reminder of the good and bad. It was a temptation to wish for the good and a reminder of the hurt. After a few days, I decided I needed to leave that part of my life in the past. I am happy to speak and see them if we are in the same area, or see each other randomly in public but I do not need to continue the reminder of what once was. I do not need to repeat old patterns. I do not need a part of me longing for the past and constantly reminded of it.
So my question today is what do you need to let go of from the past? What are you constantly reflecting on that doesn't deserve one more minute of your time? What do you need to weed out in the garden of your mind?
Phillipains 4: 8-9 says,
8Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
If you look back in the scriptures to what Paul is saying to dwell on, he had just written to rejoice(verse 4) and not be anxious(verse 6). There is much more in chapter 4 of Phillipians but my point is that we choose what to dwell on. I choose what I put into my mind and what I let influence me. Paul is saying here to meditate on the good, can I do that when what is coming to mind is a reflection of the bad? Absolutely not, so today I make it a point to dwell on the word of the Lord and not the negativity that often can come to mind, when there is a reminder of it.