I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother’s Day with their Mommies!
Lately, my heart has been heavy for some friends who have been dealing with some unresolved pain of the past. I discovered an archived verse and message that I had written in 2005 that specifically highlights this area. With the recent LIFE retreat weekend still fresh in my spirit, I thought that the following message may encourage some of you. God wants all of us to be free from the past so we can live in His fullness today!
Ephesians 1:11
Furthermore, because of Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us from the beginning, and all things happen just as he decided long ago.
Philippians 3:13
No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.
One of my favorite movies which is also a Broadway production is The Lion King.
The Lion King was one of the first movies my son ever viewed as a young toddler. It is a very touching and powerful story about the love between a lion ruler, Mufasa, and his young cub, Simba growing up to become the heir of his father’s kingdom.
After being framed for the death of his father in an accident designed by Simba’s evil Uncle Scar, Simba was deceived by his uncle and persuaded to run away from his home out of fear, guilt, and shame.
Several years later, Rafiki, a wise monkey 
, discovered Simba, and made it a point to knock some sense into him so that Simba would return to his throne at Pride Rock. Rafiki knew Simba’s father, and told Simba that his father was still alive. Rafiki led Simba to a pond where Simba saw his reflection in the water. Simba stated, “That’s not my father, that’s just my reflection.” Rafiki pressed Simba to look closer encouraging, “You see, he lives in you.” Simba heard his father’s voice, “Simba, you have forgotten who you are! Remember who you are!” Seconds later, as Simba revealed he was afraid to face his past, Rafiki sympathized that sometimes the past can hurt…….but then declared, “You run from it, or you learn from it.” These events motivated Simba to return to his kingdom and claim his inheritance as the Lion King.
, discovered Simba, and made it a point to knock some sense into him so that Simba would return to his throne at Pride Rock. Rafiki knew Simba’s father, and told Simba that his father was still alive. Rafiki led Simba to a pond where Simba saw his reflection in the water. Simba stated, “That’s not my father, that’s just my reflection.” Rafiki pressed Simba to look closer encouraging, “You see, he lives in you.” Simba heard his father’s voice, “Simba, you have forgotten who you are! Remember who you are!” Seconds later, as Simba revealed he was afraid to face his past, Rafiki sympathized that sometimes the past can hurt…….but then declared, “You run from it, or you learn from it.” These events motivated Simba to return to his kingdom and claim his inheritance as the Lion King. As Christians, we are given the fullness of God the Father and Jesus Christ through His Holy Spirit upon Salvation. We can try to run away when we have feelings of fear, guilt, or shame. However, as Christians, we won’t get very far, because the Holy Spirit will awaken us and shine through us with His reflection…..but it is up to us to come back to Him.
We have an inheritance that is ours by the Grace of the Father. He wants us to claim the GIFT HE has given us. The “Scar” in our lives (the Enemy) and the scars of our past cannot hinder the amazing grace that is ours, because of the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus. We can either run from our past or learn from our past. After all, every single detail of our past is what makes us who we are today. We must not forget who we are IN CHRIST, because He indeed lives in us!
“Through true guilt, the Holy Spirit seeks to draw us closer to God. Through false, incriminating guilt, Satan seeks to separate us from God.” (Jim Henry, One Minute Bible)
Our Father wants us to share in the rich and abundant life He offers through Jesus. We must remember who we are in Him, learn from the past, and claim the inheritance that is ours through our FATHER, the PERFECT KING!
HUKUNA MATATA (No Worries) when we remember who we are IN THE KING! 
SUSIE MC
