Arise from Your Past Season and Shine

It was time to organize, pitch, and clean. 

The disarray of my physical environment was interfering with my productivity. I’d start a writing project, but I couldn’t maintain my focus. So, I stuffed garbage bags with stacks of mail and magazines, deleted thousands of emails, shredded paper, and rearranged closets. 

But decluttering my physical surroundings fell short of resolving my lack of productivity. Maybe I needed to declutter another area. My inner life. 

Sometimes we need to arise from the dust of memories that trap and imprison us in the past. We dwell on a history we cannot change. But Isaiah 52:2 tells us to arise and shake off the dust and remove the chains of slavery from our necks.

My word for this year is arise

In order to walk in freedom, we need to arise and sweep away the ashes of lost dreams, disappointments, and hurts that have enslaved us and prevented us from walking in God’s best. 

It’s Time to Arise from:

  1. Regrets—We all have regrets, but occasionally we get trapped in a cycle of regret—the what-ifs. But at the end of the cycle, our history remains unchanged. We can forgive and commit those painful events to God and receive his healing and forgiveness.
  2. Failures—All of us experience failure. But if we focus on what we can learn from those experiences and the wisdom we gained, we can move on.
  3. Offenses—Holding onto offenses turns our focus from God, imprisoning us in a cell of unforgiveness. Forgiveness sets us free and places the offender in God’s hands.
  4. Bitterness—Bitterness can be sneaky, raising its ugly head through snarky comments, jealousy, and gossip. We can dig out the roots of bitterness through repentance and make space for what God wants to grow.
  5. Wrong mindsets or attitudes—We can transform our minds by replacing the lies we believe about ourselves, others, and God with the truth of God’s word.

Even the apostle Paul knew the importance of letting go. He said, One thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. (Philippians 3:13NKJV)

When we leave behind the trappings of the past, we are free to arise and walk in the present purpose and calling of God.

It’s Time to Arise to:

  1. A new level of intimacy with Jesus—We become more sensitive to the Lord’s voice in worship, scripture meditation, and prayer. Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away. (Song of Solomon 2:13 ESV)
  2. Believe—Believe the truth of God’s Word. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (John 8:32 NIV)
  3. Thanksgiving—Gratitude arises when we are unshackled from the chains that bind us. He…broke away their chains. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love.
    (Psalm 107:14-15 NIV)
  4. Speak—Whether we speak, write, or share our testimonies, we are called to offer hope to those he has placed within our sphere of influence. Therefore prepare yourself and arise, and speak to them all that I command you. (Jeremiah 1:17 NKJV)   
  5. New opportunities—When we let go of the past, we are free to move into the plans and purposes of God, fully confident of his goodness and his direction. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11NKJV)

We experience a greater presence of the Lord in our lives when we release past hurts, mistakes, and disappointments to God. Instead of focusing on our pain we are free to walk in the plans and purposes of God.

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. (Isaiah 60:1 NIV)

Where is God speaking arise to you?

Photo courtesy of pixabay

4 thoughts on “Arise from Your Past Season and Shine”

  1. Great post Ms. Joanie. It reminded me of a quote I saw not long ago (I can’t remember where), but it was related to God. The quote was (paraphrased) “God is not the great I Was, He is the great I AM!” What an important reminder that we too are not our past, but our future. We cannot live focused on what may have been in our past, but on what we can be in God’s future for us. Well said ma’am.

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