Yesterday, I walked away from my computer to get my reading glasses so that I could actually SEE what was on my computer. I walked back in to my office three times WITHOUT my glasses. I'd get distracted by something, sit back down at the computer and then when all the words looked fuzzy, I'd remember why I got up in the first place. They say it's part of aging - this forgetting stuff.
I would say that it's also a sign of maturity. The whole "forgetting stuff" thing is one of the keys to a peaceful, victorious life. (You're welcome).
Forgetting stuff when it comes to people is extremely important. Well, I mean, some people do some things that are not easy to forget. Some people hurt you so deeply, betray you so utterly, that you'd have to have a lobotomy to forget. I guess the idea is to NOT DWELL on what they've done. As we say in New York City, "fuggeddaboudit"...
Make the choice to ask the Lord to help you to "forget" .. to move on.. You can run it over in your mind... and get angrier and angrier.. Sometimes I have to ask myself, "Why are you so determined to not forget this? What possible pleasure are you getting from remembering and dwelling on the pain they caused you?" I never have a good answer.
Forgetting stuff is also the way to walk in the freedom that Jesus came to give you. Some of us have done things that are not easy to forget. We have hurt people, we have betrayed others and God so completely that we can hardly look in the mirror. We have sinned. We have really sinned when we knew better. In our brains we say that we know that God has forgiven us, but in our hearts we keep beating ourselves up, we keep expecting the other shoe of God's wrath to fall on our lives at any moment. This is also a good time to ask yourself, "Why do I keep focusing on my failure? What possible good can come from refusing to forget I am a sinful but forgiven worm?" This one has a simple answer. His name is Satan. He accuses. Re-accuses. And Re-re-accuses. The way to stop focusing on your failure is to REMEMBER that God says, "I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake and remembers you sins no more." (Isaiah 43:25) God is the inventor and creator of the whole "forgetting stuff" idea.
Forgetting stuff includes forgetting the pleasure that comes from sinning. You know, if every time we sinned it felt like someone was sticking a long needle in our eyeballs... none of us would sin. Who wants to feel that kind of pain? But the Bible acknowledges that sin has pleasure (Heb.11:25) for a season.
It feels good to be addicted. There was a high that caused the world to go away.
It felt good to commit adultery. It was exciting. He made you feel like he was the only one who ever really truly loved you.
It was wonderful to steal from your employer. You remember the days you were a hero with lots of cash.
Refusing to forget the pleasure of sin is the one sure way to forget the consequences of it. A good question to ask is, "What am I gaining by remembering the pleasure of my sin? How is it helping me to overcome it?" This is another question that never seems to have a good answer.
Finally.. NEVER FORGET HOW GOOD GOD IS BEING TO YOU. AND ME.
NEVER FORGET THAT STUFF.
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