The Information We Have


 But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead Phil. 3:13

 Time passes whether we want it to our not and with the passage of time, we learn.  We may not even be trying to learn, but information comes our way and enters into our brains and we either use the information or we don't.

 I never thought about this until a few years ago.  I was telling a friend about this mistake I had made and how bad I was feeling about it.  I was really beating myself up.  Finally she said "you did what you did with the information you had at the time.  Now you have new information."  

 I have thought of this so many times since that conversation.  God doesn't want us to beat ourselves up for making decisions based on the information we have at the time.  He does want us to ask Him for knowledge and wisdom which He will give freely to us.  However, we can only make decisions based on the information available to us.  We need to be patient with ourselves when learning new information and forgive ourselves for bad decisions based on the information we had at the time.

 When new information comes, then we can move in different directions, makes amends if we need to, change our path if we feel led, but as the scripture above says, we need to forget what lies behind and always strain forward to what lies ahead.

 If our mistake causes us to sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins when we confess them and ask for forgiveness.  

 For the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity Prov. 24:16

 God will always help us rise from our mistakes.  If we are in constant contact with Him, even with limited information, He will protect us and help us to do the "next right thing".  

 Life is hard and sometimes we just don't have all the facts.  Just try to do the best that you can.  You will never be sorry for doing the right and honest thing in your decision making.  And as always, there are answers and guidance in God's word.

 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.  1 Cor. 10:11

 The biggest mistake of all

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