learn from pastWe’ve reached the end of February and with two months of 2016 now deleted from the calendar, we’re fully into the new year.

How are you doing with your resolutions? Still moving forward to reach your goals?

As we consider this new year and how we can best learn and grow, it’s important to not forget what happened before. We learned some new things in 2015 as we grew emotionally and spiritually.

One of the best ways to move forward with courage and strength is to remember what we have learned, how God has been with us and then apply those lessons to where we are now.

In Deuteronomy 8, Moses reminds us, “Remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth and so confirms his covenant” (Deuteronomy 8:18).

Moses reminded the Israelites that it was God who rescued them out of slavery in Egypt. It was God who sent them manna to eat when they were hungry and water to drink when they thirsted in the wilderness. It was God who protected them from snakes and from warring nations. And while he was helping them with all these practical things, God was also teaching them about trust.

For 40 years, God specifically helped them in the wilderness. “Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands” (Deuteronomy 8:2).

Moses warns the people not to become proud. “When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God…” (Deuteronomy 8:10-11).

When God helps us make our way through a difficult journey, we should be grateful. And when things start to look up and feel better, that is still the time to thank God for what he has done – to remember what he brought us through.

As women, we journey through lots of different situations – some of them more painful than others. But instead of living in self-pity or becoming victims, we can move forward with joy. Yes, we do remember what has happened and sometimes we have to deal with the past by seeking a good counselor and/or by learning how to grieve in healthy ways.

But we can move beyond the past and find hope for our tomorrows if we continue to learn and grow and thank God for helping us through our wilderness.

As we remember the past, we begin to see how our future will change. It may be shaped by what we have experienced, but it can definitely be better because of what we have learned.

The journey is part of our history, but the future becomes our legacy.

At GateWay, we offer a journaling class to teach women various ways to journal and the value of learning from a journal. Reflective journaling is its own type of remembering the past and searching for the future.

Check out these prompts for reflective journaling. Then call us at 913.393.GATE (4283) and register for our journaling class.

As we begin to march into spring and welcome a new month, let’s remember all the wonderful ways God has been with us in the past. Let’s reflect on lessons learned and look forward to how the future will be shaped.

All of us will leave a legacy. As we remember well and move forward with courage, we can make our legacies rich with strength, empowerment and grace.

©2016 GateWay of Hope – Hope, Healing and Wholeness for Women