EXPERTS LANE n INSPIRATION
Released to Receive
“ These things of the past are gone forever.”( Revelation 21:4, CEV)
By Sharlyne Thomas
We’ ve all had someone encourage us to forget the past by saying,“ Let bygones be bygones,” or“ Don’ t cry over spilled milk.” One of my favorite sayings is,“ This, too, shall pass,” because we should always be looking towards the light at the end of the tunnel. Our circumstances change just like the seasons of each year, especially in our businesses. However, the Lord wants us to focus on the future instead of constantly rehearsing or longing for the past. Why? Because if our hands are full of old things, we won’ t have room to receive new blessings.
You may have realized that starting a new business is similar to the process of childbirth. As I watched my own daughter give birth to my grandson in 2017, I saw how quickly she forgot the 24 hours of pain, pressure and fatigue as soon as she held him in her arms. How could she enjoy, celebrate and be grateful for the new addition to our family if she was still focused on the previous day’ s labor? Don’ t be like Lot’ s wife in Genesis 19:26( who turned into a pillar of salt), afraid of leaving your
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I realized in 2015— after I left my seemingly secure, full-time corporate position— that in order to receive more of God, I had to release more of me. I had to disconnect from my past physically, spiritually, mentally and even financially. At some point in your journey to success, you must give yourself permission to create or revisit those visions, dreams and goals that will shape your destiny and more than likely, the destiny of those around you! Decide what you want to receive for all of your hard work and what you are willing to release in order for that mission to manifest.
We have to remember that because we are spirit, soul and body, every aspect of our lives is connected. Consider this: if we are not emotionally healed from a traumatic event from childhood that caused us to distrust authority figures, how will we be able to receive advice and mentorship from a business coach as an adult? Not only do we need to release past failures and pain, we must also let go of the guilt from our previous wrongdoings, especially when those mistakes were made out of naivety or immaturity. We cannot allow the accuser of the brethren( mentioned in Revelation 12:10) to remind us of, and keep us bound by, our former selves.
The only segment of your history that God wants you to remember is where He’ s brought you from by His salvation, deliverance and victory. I have many testimonies to prove that when one door closes, the Lord has already provided a ram in the bush as He did for Abraham in Genesis 22:13. For example, when I was laid off from work( the first time) in 2007, I changed my focus to searching for a job that involved my newly discovered gift of writing and editing— this is what turned into my full-time business. The ending of one chapter should lead to the beginning of another, so do not let a temporary discouragement or inconvenience linger too long. Just speak to your past or present trial and decree and declare that“ it is finished”( John 19:30)!
Sharlyne Thomas Spirit of Excellence Writing & Editing Services, LLC 321.209.2309 editor @ takeupthysword. com TakeUpThySword. com
COURTESY OF SHARLYN THOMAS
8 IBA Success Magazine n VOL 4, Issue 4