By Chris WittsFriday 6 Sep 2024Morning Devotions with Chris WittsFaithReading Time: 1 minute
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Transcript:
Early in 2024 the media released a news story that made many people stop in astonishment. And it came from the UK, where well known comedian, actor and podcaster Russell Brand was baptised in the River Thames in London.
So where did this come from? Was it a joke? No, it actually happened. In December 2023 he told his many followers that he was reading the Bible and a 1940 book by CS. Lewis called ‘The Problem of Pain‘.
The book explores the role of suffering in the Christian life. Then, in January, he said he was reading Rick Warren’s ‘The Purpose Driven Life‘ and that he desired a personal relationship with God. He found Jesus Christ increasingly important as he grew older, despite once seeing many churches as either too old fashioned or too modernised. It was a remarkable turnaround from a young entertainer who’s had his share of trouble and accusations of misdemeanors.
Getting to know God and moving forward
It seems to be genuine. He wants to change his whole life. And during a TV interview with Tucker Carlson, Brand said, like many desperate people, I need spirituality. I need God. I cannot cope in this world. I need to believe the best in people. He acknowledged he didn’t have enough self-discipline to resist the attraction of stardom.
He said he fell face first into the gutter, and he was only just pulling himself out. Now his baptism was an important decision to leave the past behind. Now I’ve never met Russell. I can only comment on what I’ve read, but I am interested in his wish to move on with his life and leave the past behind. Being able to reconcile with your past, whoever you are, will take some significant work. And if you’re having difficulty moving on from a painful past, don’t be opposed to seeking professional guidance.
The fact, though, is that you can’t change what’s already happened. But you can change your life to have a better future simply by changing what you’re focusing on.
Work on forgiveness to set yourself free. Pause when you’ve got a negative thought and reframe it into a positive statement. Change your daily habits to increase your future success. Take some frequent small steps out of your comfort zone to continually grow as a person and build an amazing group of people who encourage support and guide you to reach your full potential no matter what your past has been.
This is a great big world, full of possibilities for you. It is time to look to the future with hope and excitement, and to step forward into the life that you’re meant to have. Holding onto the past can feel a lot like carrying a heavy backpack. Everywhere you go. It’s a common struggle that many of us face. It’s not easy. You can’t turn back the clock, no matter how much you wish. You can only change how you view the past and whether you let past mistakes have control over you in the present.
Our past failures can be a great stumbling block to reaching our potential. Many allow these past experiences or failures to control their future. I heard the story of a guy in his sixties. He had a driving licence, but he never wanted to drive a car. He was asked why, he said. When he was 18, he got behind the wheel of a car and made a terrible accident. No one got hurt, but that incident, that failure shaped his future, and he refused to drive a car again because of fear because of the past. So if he wants to go somewhere, he just asks for a lift. If he would just take the past failure, keep it in the past, he could go forward and get behind the wheel of a car and become independent again.
But of course it’s up to him to take that step, and you have to decide whether you want to stay in the past or reach out for the future.
Are you holding on to something from your past that’s preventing you from living a better future?
Steve Marib Boli wrote – ‘The truth is, unless you let go and forgive yourself, unless you forgive the situation and unless you realise that that situation is over, you cannot move forward.’
Being able to reconcile with your past is going to take some work. It is time to look to the future with hope and step forward into something different. It’s good to consider who you spend most of your time with. Are the people that you spend time with building you up? Are they encouraging and supporting you to be the best? Or are they usually negative and pessimistic?
The people that you surround yourself with will affect your life and therefore your ability to leave the past behind.
Let’s Pray
Heavenly Father, today I thank you that it is possible to leave the past behind to move forward, not just through our own resources but knowing we have the divine resources of God. And I thank you, Lord, that you can change my life today and make a big difference. Amen.