It seems we are at an impasse....

When I started my journey, I was in search of an answer to my question. What I found were more questions than answers. As I began to sift through the lessons and reflections, I discovered I was shaped more by my past than my future. This led me to stumble, trip, and fall, through my life. I needed to, as Pumba from Disney's Lion King said, "Put my behind in the past!" It's been described by a friend that we all tend to walk forward while facing backwards. We disqualify ourselves to do anything bold because of our past. What I've learned is, God's not interested in yesterday, and He really isn't concerned with your plans for tomorrow. What He really wants to know is, what am I going to do with today?
Paul writes in Philippians 3:13-14

"No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴ I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us."

I've read a book recently by a brilliant author. In this book he follows a man facing life's similar questions. As you travel with David Ponder, you begin to see that life WAS meant for more. David gets to travel through time and spend a moment with seven significant people as they were about to change history. Along the way, he learned certain decisions that shaped their thinking. Without giving away the story, I want to focus on one of those decisions:

Decision #1 

  The Responsible Decision

The Buck Stops Here.

From this moment forward, I will accept responsibility for my past. I understand that the beginning

of wisdom is to accept the responsibility for my own problems and that by accepting responsibility

for my past, I free myself to move into a bigger, brighter future of my own choosing.

Never again will I blame my parents, my spouse, my boss, or employees for my present situation.

Neither my education or lack of one, my genetics, or the circumstantial ebb and flow of everyday

life will affect my future in a negative way. If I allow myself to blame these uncontrollable forces

for my lack of success, I will be forever caught in a web of the past. I will look forward. I will not

let my history control my destiny.

The buck stops here. I accept responsibility for my past. I am responsible for my success. I am

where I am today—mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally, and financially—because of

decisions I have made. My decisions have always been governed by my thinking. Therefore, I am

where I am today—mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally, and financially—because of how

I think. Today I will begin the process of changing where I am—mentally, physically, spiritually,

emotionally, and financially—by changing the way I think.

My thoughts will be constructive, never destructive. My mind will live in the solutions of the

future. It will not dwell in the problems of the past. I will seek the association of those who are

working and striving to bring about positive changes in the world. I will never seek comfort by

associating with those who have decided to be comfortable.

When faced with the opportunity to make a decision, I will make one. I understand that God did not

put in me the ability to always make right decisions. He did, however, put in me the ability to make

a decision and then make it right. The rise and fall of my emotional tide will not deter me from my

course. When I make a decision, I will stand behind it. My energy will go into making the decision.

I will waste none on second thoughts. My life will not be an apology. It will be a statement.

The buck stops here. I control my thoughts. I control my emotions.

In the future, when I am tempted to ask the question “Why me?”, I will immediately counter with

the answer: “Why not me?” Challenges are a gift, an opportunity to learn. Problems are the common

thread running through the lives of great men and women. In times of adversity, I will not

have a problem to deal with, I will have a choice to make. My thoughts will be clear. I will make

the right choice. Adversity is preparation for greatness. I will accept the preparation. Why me?

Why not me? I will be prepared for something great!

I accept responsibility for my past. I control my thoughts. I control my emotions. I am responsible

for my success.

The buck stops here.*

 

*denotes Traveler's Gift by Andy Andrews

A.W. Tozer writes it this way:

“The reason why many are still troubled, still seeking, still making little forward progress is because they haven't yet come to the end of themselves. We're still trying to give orders, and interfering with God's work within us. ”