Philippians 3:13-14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
We came across this story, about a man who was slowly losing his memory. After a lengthy examination, the doctor said that a risky operation on his brain might reverse his condition and restore his memory. However, the surgery would be so delicate that a nerve could be severed, causing total blindness.
The surgeon asked, “So, which would you rather have, your sight or your memory?” The man pondered the question for a while and replied, “My sight, because I would rather see where I am going than remember where I have been.”
The enemy loves to dig up our past and try to keep us stuck in our failures. I call it the “woulda, coulda, shoulda” trap—the things we wish we’d done differently. But let me encourage you: today is a brand-new day! Every single day, we have a choice to make.
Just like Paul said, we need to press forward and leave the past behind. That doesn’t mean we ignore what’s happened, but we don’t let it define us or hold us back. Instead, we focus on what lies ahead. Let’s keep our eyes on Jesus—not on our successes, not on our failures, but on what we can do for Him today. God has a purpose for this moment, so let’s step into it with faith and hope!
Let go of the chains of your past and step into the freedom God has for you! Don’t get stuck looking back—keep your eyes on the prize ahead! God has a purpose and a future for you, so stay focused on Him and keep moving forward!
Copyright 1999-2025 Worthy Devotions. This devotional was originally published on Worthy Devotions and was reproduced with permission.
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As we continue this study of the Dead Sea scrolls, authorities announced the discovery of several more scrolls as their extensive search for more hidden caves and treasures continues. Given the “coincidence” of the events described in previous devotionals, God’s providential involvement in these developments becomes clear. His Word tells us what is about to happen, and new discoveries of Biblical texts seem to be directly related to modern prophetic fulfillments.
As we continue this study of the Dead Sea Scrolls we jump to 1963 and the unearthing of Masada.
Flavius Josephus the Jewish historian recorded the tragic events at Masada in “The Jewish Wars.” Masada was ignored for years as it reminded the Rabbis of the failures of the many false messiahs that appeared after Yeshua (Jesus).
As we continue into the historical and prophetic significance of the discovery of the Dead Sea scrolls, I take you back to 1948. Professor Eleazar Sukenik discovered that Mar Athanasius Yeshue Samuel, the Syrian Orthodox Archbishop of Jerusalem purchased several of the Dead Sea scrolls. So Professor Sukenik visited the archbishop and took several photos of the scrolls which were then sent to William Albright, a Biblical archaeologist at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.