Bringing Closure to a Past Problem

by: Bishop Herbert H. Thomas, Jr., Ph.D.

The past is something many people have a difficult time of letting go, especially when there are situations and circumstances that should be forgotten. I’m sure we all have someone in our lives who have become miserable, selfish, greedy, or just out right unhappy because of something from the past. We may also be victims of our past and give excuses, rationale or even blame others for our behaviors. As believers in Jesus Christ, we have a responsibility to love others who have done us wrong. We are also required to forgive others and let go of the past because it can have a hold on our joy as believers. Listed below are Bible verses that speaks to letting go of the past.

• 2 Corinthians 5:17, God says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” This scripture says old things are gone, they are just that. God is doing a new thing but he can’t do it, if we are staying in the past.

He says that old things are just that. Old. And gone. up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”

It is a waste of time to dwell on the past, it keeps us from allowing God to do a new thing in our lives. We must trust God and believe that he is doing a new thing. It takes practice when you have been hurt but know that there is nothing too difficult for God.

• Exodus 23:20, “S, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place

I have prepared.”

When we move forward and let go of the past, God sends us help and empowers us with what we need (and that is the power of the Holy Spirit and his angels).

• Job 17:9, “The righteous keep moving forward, and those with clean hands become stronger and stronger.”

When we let go of the past, we are able to move forward and grow stronger in the Lord. When we let go of the past, it is a demonstration of our trusting God and leaning to his understanding and not our own.

• Philippians 3:13-14, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Commit to letting go of the past. Commit to trusting the Lord with your whole heart. Study the scriptures on letting go of the past and press forward in the present.

The Lord desires for us to live a life of love, joy and peace. The subsequent scriptures are the foundation for us letting go of the past. Yes, letting go of the past sounds easy to do and can be quite difficult depending on the situation that has occurred in a person’s life. I believe it begins with us first making a choice to let it go. If you are having problems with letting go of the past, the following are seven practical ways that can guide you and help you break free from the past. Letting go of the past will allow you to embrace your present and enjoy where you are going.

Step 1: Realize the Problem

We have learned that one event can change your whole outlook on life, marriage, friendship, or opportunities. We must stop blaming others for our problems and accept responsibility, whether it was someone else or ourselves. You have to evaluate, look at the situation and write down what is really bothering you? You know it happened. We must realize by being real and without denial.

Step 2: Review It

You must review the situation without reliving it. I don’t mean review it so deeply that you start crying over it. But you review the situation so you can see what went wrong, so it won’t happen again. Take the military approach to your past problem. They have what you call debriefing meetings. In those meetings, they review and analyze what occurred. You should do the same. Review the past problem and analyze what happened.

Step 3: Repent

When we hear repent, we automatically think of salvation. But there is repentance that’s on another level than salvation repentance. It is repentance unto the kingdom. John preached in Matthew 3:2 “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven has come near.”

It is a repentance to a higher lifestyle. It is a changing of the mind. The word repent does not mean change your ways. It means to change your mind. Because if you change your mind, your ways will change. That’s why Paul tells us in Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Before you can do what is pleasing and acceptable to God, you got to get your mind right. The good and acceptable is your attitude and your behavior. Only then can you do the will of God.

People want you to pray that their ways will someway change their behavior but we should be praying for a transformed mind. Let’s examine, James 4:8 “Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

When you come to God, He will meet you when you honestly repent. When you go to the altar and bring your past hurt, God will meet you. You come to the altar and bring that bondage, hurt, and past and God will meet you. He will, “Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

We must come to God with a repenting heart and not with a double-minded mind. We can’t come to God with two minds. One minute you say you let go of the past and the next minute later you are back focused on past issues. The Lord does not want you to vacillate back and forth. He wants us to be stable and decisive in our thinking.

Step 4: Resist

Question: Who do you think keeps re-running your past before your eyes? Who do you think builds up fear in you when you get close to a person? Who do you think won’t let you reconcile from a broken relationship?

James 4:7 says, Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. The goal of the enemy is to steal, kill and destroy your life (John 10:10). He attacks us with accusations, suspicions and worries. He throws fiery darts that attempt to keep us in darkness and in our past hurts, situations and circumstances. We must resist the devil because the fiery darts come to destroy our peace and to shake our mindset.

Step 5: Resolve

In this step, it is time to open your mouth and make a statement/declaration. It is time to put your words into action. Don’t sit up and think about it. Often times this is the problem. We think about things too much and that causes us to be double-minded in our actions. Resolve within yourself not to live by the problem or issue. Let your faith guide you and it will make you stronger than the problem.

Step 6: Re-Locate

It’s time to relocate your position, posture, and get a new look on life. In this practical step, it is time for you to realize that you can’t do it on your own, you need God. The Bible records in James in 4:10, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” If you are trying to work everything by yourself, you must relocate to a humble spot. So, where do you humble yourself in the sight of the Lord. What will He do when you humble yourself in His sight? He will lift you up. He will raise you out of your discouragement, depression, discontent, embarrassment, insecurities, and fear.

How do I humble myself before God? Be honest and say God I need help. I don’t want to do those things anymore in my own strength. Lord I know that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

And this leads us to the 7th and final step.

Step 7: Restoration which leads to Rejoice

In James 4:6 it records, “But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” You get restored by the grace of God. When we mess up big time, grace is still there. Restoration leads to us rejoicing in the sight of God.

Do this for me quickly. Get out a sheet of paper.

Write on the paper what you have been worrying about in your life. Write down the source of your inner conflict. It might be bankruptcy, a divorce, a problem child, a past offense, or poor self-image. It might be jealousy, anger, abuse. Write it down. It might be an ex-husband/wife, a past decision. Put everything on that piece of paper, just be honest and just write it down.

Now, when you are finished, fold up your piece of paper and write on the back, cancelled and forgiven. The enemy can’t hold this against you anymore.

Hold up your paper. Repeat after me. In the name of Jesus, this problem will not hold me hostage any longer. In the name of Jesus, I accept the blood of Jesus as my ransom. I am free from this. I am free this in Jesus name. Say Amen.

Now ball it up and put it in a trash can or bag.

Now put on your sunglasses. Why, sunglasses? Because your future is so bright that you can’t stand to look at it.

You should feel like Ray Charles. He had a song that said, take these chains from my heart and set me free. I’ve been set free.

Remember, the devil lives in the past and God lives in the future. “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.” You are a new creature, now it is time to walk in your newness without the past.

Amen,