Goodbye Yesterday!

Today’s blog topic is courtesy of Alejandro, the praise song “Goodbye Yesterday” by Elevation Rhythm & Gracie Binion, and Philippians 3:13–14. If that sounds like a lot to unpack, don’t worry — we’ve got it organized. Yes, there are bullet points. (Emotionally speaking. No actual dots were harmed in the making of this post.) But first, let’s begin with Scripture:

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14 NKJV    

Just as the song mentions, something we, as Christians, need to learn is to say “goodbye to yesterday.” It’s all too easy to feel like prisoners – not because we don’t have dreams or goals, but because we can become trapped in the past. We might replay every bad decision we’ve ever made like they are our own versions of America’s Funniest Home Video, minus the funny parts. Or we can even get so trapped in thinking about the good seasons of the past that we fail to live in the present.

Now for the three main points Alejandro wishes to share with everyone:

Bullet Point #1 (Minus the actual bullet point)

Our past doesn’t mean that’s our future. Every single one of us has made some dubious decisions. We’ve all done things that don’t make us feel proud. But Alejandro would like to remind us that Paul, the author of Philippians, also had a past. And, really, chances are that Paul’s past as a killer who actively worked against the church feels a little seedier than anything you may be reliving in your head. 

Alejandro said, “The devil is going to try to use our pasts to keep us there. Your past doesn’t mean that you don’t have a purpose in the Lord. Paul found his purpose when he found the Lord.” 

Bullet Point #2 (Pretend there’s a bullet point.)

Saying goodbye to yesterday is a spiritual decision. Not everything was bad, but not everything is useful now. When we leave our pasts in the past, we can walk forward.

Alejandro urges you to pray for God to give you a new vision. He said, “We cannot get our purpose in the Lord when we live in the past. The kingdom is always moving forward. Verse 14 reminds us to press forward, toward the goal. The goal needs to be Christ. Not perfection. Not fame. Not likes on social media. The goal needs to be God.”

Bullet Point #3 (The final bullet point that’s not really here)

God has not brought you to this day to have you live as a prisoner of your past. Say “goodbye” to yesterday so you can say “yes” to God’s purpose for your present. 

- posted by Christi