Many people live mentally trapped in what has happened or anxious about what will happen. But Scripture gives us a clear compass.
1. The Past: A Place for Lessons, Not a Prison
The Bible acknowledges the value of remembering the past—but with boundaries:
📖 Deuteronomy 8:2 (KJV)
“And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee…”
📖 Psalm 77:11 (KJV)
“I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.”
We remember God’s faithfulness, His works, and His dealings, not our failures, regrets, or trauma. The past is a memorial of God’s victories, not a museum of personal pain.
📖 Philippians 3:13 (KJV)
“…forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.”
To dwell on past mistakes is to insult the power of redemption. To dwell on past victories alone is to limit the expectation of greater ones.
2. The Future: A Place for Vision, Hope, and Alignment
A believer is designed to live forward:
📖 Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)
“Where there is no vision, the people perish…”
📖 Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV)
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you… thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
God Himself is future-minded. His plans pull us forward. But even our future thoughts must be governed by faith—not fear.
📖 Isaiah 43:18-19 (KJV)
“Remember ye not the former things… Behold, I will do a new thing…”
The believer’s future is not a prediction—it is a prophetic promise to be believed, prepared for, and walked into.
3. So Where Should the Christian Spend More Mental Time?
The Bible balances both, but weights our meditation toward the future God has promised, while using the past only to fuel thanksgiving and trust.
A believer should think about the future more because:
God calls us forward (Phil 3:13) We live by vision (Prov 29:18) God’s thoughts toward us are future plans (Jer 29:11) Our best spiritual seasons are ahead (John 14:12 – greater works)
📖 Lamentations 3:22-23 (KJV)
“It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed… They are new every morning.”
New mercies mean fresh chapters, and fresh chapters demand forward thinking.
4. Why We Don’t Live in the Past or Future Alone
| Past alone → Depression, regret, stagnation
| Future alone → Anxiety, uncertainty, presumption
| Christ-governed future → Faith, hope, preparation, obedience
📖 Matthew 6:34 (AMPC)
“So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow…”
We think forward, but we don’t worry forward.
5. Practical Christian Posture
✔ Think forward by faith
✔ Remember the past with thanksgiving
✔ Drop the past that tries to define you
✔ Walk into the future God has authored
6. Final Word
You are not called to live in what was. You are called to manifest what God said will be. The Christian mind lives in the rhythm of prophetic expectation + present obedience.
🔥 Salvation Prayer (for those who want this reality too):
If you’re unsure of your salvation or want to reaffirm your faith in Jesus, pray this sincerely:
Lord Jesus,
I come to You today.
I believe You died for me and rose again.
I receive You as my Lord and Savior.
Forgive my sins. Wash me in Your blood.
Write my name in the Book of Life.
Fill me with Your Spirit.
From today, I walk forward with You by faith.
In Jesus Name, Amen.
⛪ Invitation to Church
You can grow stronger, rooted, and rightly aligned by joining:
The Dream Centre of the Life Oasis International Church
📧 Email: info@dreamcentre.org
📱 Phone: +2348037252124
🌐 Website: dreamcentreoftheloic.org
The Message Bearer (SmilingPreacher), Cornelius Bella
corneliusbella 