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 pastâbut with boundaries:
đ Deuteronomy 8:2 (KJV)
âAnd thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led theeâŠâ
đ Psalm 77:11 (KJV)
âI will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.â
We remember Godâs faithfulness, His works, and His dealings, not our failures, regrets, or trauma. The past is a memorial of Godâs victories, not a museum of personal pain.
đ Philippians 3:13 (KJV)
ââŠforgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.â
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:
đ Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)
âWhere there is no vision, the people perishâŠâ
đ Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV)
âFor I know the thoughts that I think toward you⊠thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.â
God Himself is future-minded. His plans pull us forward. But even our future thoughts must be governed by faithânot fear.
đ Isaiah 43:18-19 (KJV)
âRemember ye not the former things⊠Behold, I will do a new thingâŠâ
The believerâs future is not a predictionâit 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) Godâs thoughts toward us are future plans (Jer 29:11) Our best spiritual seasons are ahead (John 14:12 â greater works)
đ Lamentations 3:22-23 (KJV)
âIt is of the LORDâs mercies that we are not consumed⊠They are new every morning.â
New mercies mean fresh chapters, and fresh chapters demand forward thinking.
4. Why We Donât Live in the Past or Future Alone
| Past alone â Depression, regret, stagnation
| Future alone â Anxiety, uncertainty, presumption
| Christ-governed future â Faith, hope, preparation, obedience
đ Matthew 6:34 (AMPC)
âSo do not worry or be anxious about tomorrowâŠâ
We think forward, but we donât worry forward.
5. Practical Christian Posture
â Think forward by faith
â Remember the past with thanksgiving
â Drop the past that tries to define you
â 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.
đ„ Salvation Prayer (for those who want this reality too):
If youâre 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.
âȘ Invitation to Church
You can grow stronger, rooted, and rightly aligned by joining:
The Dream Centre of the Life Oasis International Church
đ§ Email: info@dreamcentre.org
đ± Phone: +2348037252124
đ Website: dreamcentreoftheloic.org
The Message Bearer (SmilingPreacher), Cornelius Bella