The Before I Forget

The Before I Forget captures what I believe most Christians endure before and after they are saved—or at least what I have endured. It captures what I want to forget and what I hope to remember and how to intertwine the two peaceably while trying to figure out how to live the new life God has given me—one He has made known to me with the ever-increasing joy of His presence and a peace I can now count on. In an attempt to put the past where it belongs, rely to live guided by the Holy Spirit, and remain committed to a future in Christ Jesus, I arrived at my destination of salvation with the hope of seeing the world with new eyes. Only when I did, I hadn’t planned on the struggle that would blindside me afterward: the requirement to love one another, my neighbor, and my enemies, let alone the part about forgiveness. My redemptive reflection back and forth—both before I wanted to love God and after I did—will surely resonate with most of you as you continue your own battle of balance; to be set apart as Christ representatives and extend grace to those who have yet to receive Him.