With a Subtitle: Acts 7:28 reminds Christians to release the past and walk in joy today.

A brief Excerpt: Yesterday can hold us captive through guilt, regret, or sorrow, but God calls Christians to bring Him the past and walk forward in the joy of today.

The Author is: Rich Holt

Scripture

Our verse for today comes from Acts 7:28, “Do you want to kill me as you did the Egyptian yesterday?”

Background

Yesterday. Just the mention of that word does something to each one of us. It’s a powerful word that points to one of the most impactful days of your life. If you stop and consider it for a bit, chances are you’ll relive something quite pleasant as well as something that conjures up a level of disappointment or sorrow. But before you know it, the sun has set and risen again, and your yesterday has been replaced by a new one. And maybe the new one was your response to all that did or didn’t happen the day before, which leads into your today being about improving or making up for what was lacking yesterday. You see how the cycle can be consuming and defeating? And it happens so subtly, so naturally, that we don’t realize what it’s doing to us. Now, that’s not to say that being motivated to improve or finish what didn’t get accomplished is a bad thing. Certainly complacency and a defeated attitude should have no place in our hearts. But there is a fine line between wanting to make the most of today and being captive to what your yesterdays have heaped upon your shoulders. Satan’s most powerful weapon might be his ability to keep our focus in our rearview mirror, where we are unable to leave behind what was. We have enough yesterdays pile up, and soon we’re thinking that God has no interest or desire to write a new tomorrow for us.

Application

Do you hear the lie straight from the father of lies? That’s yet another reason why talking to God in prayer is so vital. You must take the time to bear your soul to Him and allow Him to respond to the burdens of your heart. If you cannot or will not open up to God, then Satan has you right where he wants you, buried under the rubble of yesterdays. And he’ll use the trappings of fleeting time or guilt or self-improvement to keep your focus off of the One who loves you and can help you and wants dearly to bless you. I know you want today to be great, regardless of how well or how poorly yesterday went. Just know that God wants the same thing, but it might look a little different from how you envision it. So give Him your today, and leave yesterday where it is. Tomorrow, you’ll be glad you did.

Charge

As we seek Him today, do all the confessing and rejoicing you need to do regarding your yesterdays, and then go forth in the joy of this day that the Lord has made.