Have you
read the first part of this article?
Read here...
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2. Repent: The
difference between Peter and Judas is simple, one repented and lived (moved
on), while the other remained a captive of his mistake and hung himself.
Repentance
is synonymous to asking for forgiveness. If the past you're battling with is fornication, accept it and repent of the act. If it's an abusive relationship, accept it and leave such relationship.
It could be anything, but you need to accept and repent of it, then you will see tangible progress in your life.
One of
the things I did when I gave my life to Christ was to break off my relationship then because we were sexually active and I knew I couldn't continue doing such.
It's been 7 years and I'm not saying it's been a smooth ride, but the difference now is, when I fall, I accept that I have fallen, repent and move on with my life and of course I don't go about looking for ways to commit sin.
Another thing I had to repent from was alcohol. I used to drink to stupor. When I'm depressed, I drink, when I'm happy, when I'm sad... It was a stimulant for me. But now I get high on the Holy Spirit😄.
One thing repentance does for you is that it helps you to see you the way God sees you and this can only happen when you study the Word and find out for yourself who God says you are.
You need
to understand that if you don't let go of your past, it has the power to
destroy your future.
Leaving a
past experience where it belongs is for your good and to the glory of God. But even if you refuse to go past it, you'll remain in the bad situation and God will DEFINITELY get His glory through another vessel who is willing to let go and let God!
3.
Isolate: Isolation is the state of feeling alone and without
friends or help. It is also a social separation of a person.
Although not an interesting thing to do, isolation is one way to silence the noise around you to hear the voice within you. It is a proven way to hear directly and clearly from God.
I love to read inspiring books of great men and women of God and I have observed that for each one of them that caught a revelation, healing, or life changing ideas, it was during their 'alone moments' with God either meditation on His Word or praying. Examples are, Bishop David Oyedepo, kenneth Hagin, Joyce Meyer, Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, Joseph
Prince, Bishop TD Jakes (I will stop at these ones).
Isolation
is also a good way to go through your healing process without dragging other
people into your "mess". Joyce Meyer (one of my Spiritual mothers)
stated in one of her books that " hurting people hurt others."
For instance, a guy has broken your heart, and two weeks later you are dating someone else? Sister, you're not ready yet, get over the last break-up first. Don't become a serial dater!
Isolation
is, separating yourself from the environment or person(s) that influences you
negatively.
Your girlfriends (from the past) hang out with sugar daddies and clubs every other weekend, they are still a part of your life (now that you have repented) and you say you want to be different? Wawu! I think you need new friends!
Stay away
from people who remind you of your past, until you are completely healed and
strong enough to win them over.
Stay away
from abusive relationships, stay away from things that won't add value to your
life in anyway. Stay!!!! Away!!!
It will
be lonely for a while, but you'll come out a better person.
I had two years of isolation before I thought of entertaining certain people into my life again. Presently, I have periods I intentionally isolate myself from everyone and everything from time to time.
I had two years of isolation before I thought of entertaining certain people into my life again. Presently, I have periods I intentionally isolate myself from everyone and everything from time to time.
4. Soul
Search: This is the summary of what is done during the isolation
period. It simply means examination of one's conscience especially with regard to motives and values. It is a deep and careful thought about your feelings in relation to a moral problem.
The goal
of isolation is to help you understand you, your strength and weaknesses. And
the process of understanding YOU, is Soul
Searching.
You want
to ask yourself questions like
Love?
God?
Money?
Relationships?
Ask yourself these salient questions and answer them too.
In my case, I never
trusted anyone before now. I used to
think everyone was out to hurt me. I realised, during my soul searching period
in isolation, that it was due to betrayal from the past.
I also discovered
that one of my core values is service to God and man.
Take time
to set yourself apart and do a soul searching exercise, trust me, you'll be
glad you did.
Finally...
5. Evolve: Your soul
search during isolation will open your eyes to the real you and you will
realise that you have so much strength than you could ever imagine.
One way
to know that you have done the soul search and isolation exercise well is the
fact that you'll evolve. That is, develop gradually into a BETTER you.
This
development requires reading lots of good books (I could recommend some, should
you have issues with low self esteem, acceptance, dealing with breakups,
discovering purpose...)
Most
importantly, study the Word. You can NEVER read too much of the Bible!
I read a
book by Bishop David Abioye recently and he expressed that "The only way anyone
can use a product well is by FIRST, understanding the purpose for which that
product was made and how to use it to the fullest of its potential. To understand
and use a product well, you MUST read the instructional manual.
You are
God's product and the only way you can understand you and live to the fullest
of God's purpose for your life is by reading your instructional manual, "The
Bible"
The Bible
is a complete Guide to and for life. Everything you need to succeed in life is therein.
Study the
Word, read books, go for training and seminars, change your sim if you have
to, get committed in your place of worship, join a service group and enjoy the
new you.
It won't
be a smooth ride, but it will be worth every of the effort you put in to leave
the Past behind.
So ARISE!
I
conclude with Philippians 3
"I'm
not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on
my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me.
Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of
this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to
Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.
So let's
keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If
any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment,
God will clear your blurred vision—you'll see it yet! Now that we're on the
right track, let's stay on it.
Stick
with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed
for this same goal. There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other
goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I've warned you of them
many times; sadly, I'm having to do it again. All they want is easy street.
They hate Christ's Cross. But easy street is a dead-end street. Those who live
there make their bellies their gods; belches are their praise; all they can
think of is their appetites.
Please
note, I'm not close being perfect; if anything, it's humbling for me to have
shared with you.
But this
scripture describes perfectly what I do daily with my life and I hope it helps
you to arise and move on too.
Forget
the past, keep your eyes focused on the glorious future God has promised you
and remember, you have a role to play for it to come to pass.
Thank you
for reading.
In case you know this truth already, kindly share... Be a blessing to someone who needs it.
Feel free to comment, I will love to read your thoughts on this.
Feel free to comment, I will love to read your thoughts on this.
Aforcetoreckonwith
