Letting Go of the Past!

Greetings,

This morning I was listening to a sermon by Joel Osteen on "Letting go of the Past". Joel said "The more you dwell on the disappointments, the more you block God's blessings in your life". To receive God's mercy you have to receive God's forgiveness; or you can never go on with your life.
In thinking about Joel's comments the following verses came to mind:
Hebrews 12:1-2 (Amplified Bible)
1 THEREFORE THEN, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us,
2 Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
I find in my life that as I try to walk closer to the Lord, the more unnecessary things in my life has to go to make room for HIM!
Jesus is the source of my FAITH! He is the joy of my life. He is doing a work in me and I pray He is doing a work in your life as well. I am so excited about all the things God is doing in my life. Sometimes I stand in awe of WHO HE IS and that He feels I am worthy to be one of HIS!
May the Lord God of our Fathers Bless and Keep You Today!
Joy