The Past. Yikes.

So while doing my morning devotions today, I came across a couple of verses and quotes that sparked a sudden interest to write another post. Along with the encouragement that some of them gave me, I also was sadly reminded of my past. I have found that I have been tugging along A LOT of baggage throughout this season of my life. Its kinda heartbreaking to be reminded of who you once were or that you still have A LOT of problems that need to be fixed. And it seems like the problems I have been carrying, are the same old ones, the same old doubts, and the same old habits. Do you feel like that as well?

Sometimes I will tell myself that I can't do certain things because people will judge me and throw my past life in my face... So then, I unpack my baggage and tend to be the person I once was in front of those I feel will judge. Make sense right? No. But I bet some of you do it.
See, I became a follower of Jesus at the summer of freshman year. So I had all my middle school friends become my high school friends along with some of the juniors and seniors, and they all saw the road I took before I turned my back on it. I lost A LOT of friends. Friends who should have been there and supported my decision to follow Jesus since it saved my life! I was traveling a road of destruction and death, but my dear friend encouraged me to attend bible study and that is where Jesus ignited a fire in my heart. A fire that, sometimes, I am too stubborn to keep feeding because my past life looked fun and tempting. But now that I think about it, 3 years have gone by and those friends aren't in that same boat they were in, those friends hang out with different people now, they share different memories with each other, they have changed in good and bad ways; so in all reality, I can't go back to my old life. It doesn't exist anymore. Jesus wiped it clean when I accepted Him as my Lord and Savior. It is forward from here.

But I still carry that baggage. ACTUALLY, you don't. You are doing it to yourself, you think that your past matters now, but it doesn't. The Devil tells us that it matters, that we are nothing. But I rebuke that in the name of Jesus and you should too! Because I AM something, I AM a child of God, I AM a new creation in Him, I AM forgiven! AMEN.

Don't carry the baggage anymore, why keep tugging along? Drop it and RUN!! RUN FOREST RUN! And don't look back. Run with God. Passionately.

You should only learn from your past. "Allow your past to make you better, not bitter."

If others do judge you:

"Do not be afraid of ANY MAN, for judgement belongs to God." Deuteronomy 1:17

If you get down on yourself:

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone and the new has come" 1 Corinthians 5:17

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20

This whole message was directed towards me and my heart. But I hope it reaches you as well. During this time of writing, God has shown me some incredible things in His word. He has really opened my heart. As well as He will open yours. HE IS ABLE.

Love, love, love,
Haley Dorsey

"But now that you know God ---- or rather are known by God ---- how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again??"
Galatians 4:9

DON'T TURN BACK!