The Bible makes it very clear that you and I are to live in the now. Second Corinthians 6:2 says, Now is the day of salvation. Hebrews 11:1 tells us that faith is now. He wants to commune with you now, and I believe He wants you to live for Him now. Right now. Today.

But there is something that often hinders Christians from living for God right now—in the today of our lives. It’s called our past.

Some people have pasts that they are not proud of. Many of us have lost expectations, failed dreams, or circumstances from past failures. We’ve all experienced things that we didn’t intend to have happen. Problems are a part of being human.

The key to a successful life with God is not getting it perfect all the time. If it was, none of us would qualify!

No, the secret isn’t perfection—it’s being quick to repent and quick to forgive ourselves and others.

The Power to Move Forward with God

Now, let me be clear… Repentance is not a free pass to do whatever you want. It’s not a license to do something wrong.

But repentance is crucial to our spiritual health, because it is the biblical way to handle things when we mess up. And it’s important to be quick to repent—because that’s how we connect with God’s unlimited power to cleanse us, forgive us, and move us forward in life.

Your past does not have to hinder you from moving ahead with God. I want to emphasize this, because many people feel that they will never be able to move beyond their past. Many Christians use past mistakes as an excuse not to do what God has called them to do today…in the now of their lives.

If that’s you, let me say what the Bible says; nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37). The Bible says there is nothing too hard for Him—whatever is in your past, it’s not too big for God to handle. The key is that you give it to Him and be willing to change.

It’s the Will of Jesus to Forgive and Heal

John chapter 8 tells the story of the Lord’s encounter with a woman who was literally caught in the act of committing adultery. The religious crowd—the Pharisees and those with a legalistic attitude—threw the woman at the feet of Jesus. They had rocks in their hands, because the Jewish law said that anyone caught in the act of adultery would be stoned to death.

Then they tested Jesus, saying, “What do you think we should do with her?” They were trying to trap Him. If He said, “Forgive her,” they could accuse Him of violating the Law of Moses. But if He said, “Stone her,” they could say, “You see, Jesus talks about God’s love, but He doesn’t live it.”

When Jesus saw what was happening, He didn’t respond the way the crowd expected. Instead, He got down in the dirt and He began to write something.

The Bible doesn’t say what He wrote. But when He was finished, He looked up at the people who were ready to stone the woman, and He said, “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone” (John 8:7).

Do you know what happened? No one threw a single stone! The Lord’s words pricked everyone’s conscience. They knew they couldn’t claim to be without sin, so they walked away. Then Jesus turned to the woman and said, “Where are your accusers?”

She said, “There are none, Lord.”

He said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.” In the flash of a second, He gave her forgiveness and freedom from her past—and an instruction of how to live her life from that moment on.

Where Does the Past Belong?

You may say, Richard, the answer to that question is obvious… The past belongs in the past. And yet, we often carry our mistakes, missteps, and mess-ups into our present and future, allowing them to dominate our thinking.

The problem is this: As long as you are living in the past—or tied to it by a lack of repentance and forgiveness—you can’t really live in the now. You can’t focus on the good things that our unlimited God has for you today if you’re tied to the past.

I believe this is why the Apostle Paul learned to put his past behind him. He said, “I have not arrived. I don’t know it all. I’ve got a long way to go. But, there’s one thing I’ve learned to do. I take the past, and I give it to God.” (See Philippians 3:12–14.)

Of course, if you know the story of Paul’s life, then you know that he made some terrible decisions in his past. He stood by and held the coats of those who killed Stephen, the first Christian martyr (Acts 7). And he didn’t stop there—he persecuted and arrested many Christians before Jesus got hold of his life and turned him around.

Paul knew that he couldn’t fully live for God if he didn’t repent and move forward, in spite of how he once persecuted the Body of Christ.

But Paul also knew that he couldn’t live in his past triumphs. Remember, Paul experienced some wonderful miracles! He wrote much of the New Testament through the direct leading of the Holy Spirit. The handkerchiefs and cloths that he touched were used to point many people to God’s healing power (Acts 19:11–12). The Bible records that during Paul’s ministry, God raised the dead (Acts 20:8–12).

But in spite of all his successes, Paul knew it was important to live in the now of his life. I’m sure he thanked God for all those miracles, but he didn’t dwell on them. He didn’t talk constantly about what he had done in the past.

No, he learned to focus on what was happening in the now of his life… And because he did, he was a blessing to the churches of his time, and his letters are still a blessing to us today!

God’s Forgiveness Is His Gift to You

Who doesn’t relate to Paul when he talks about leaving his past behind him? I’m no different than you or any other human being. We all make mistakes (Romans 3:23).

The good news is that there is nothing in our past that we can’t give to God. He’s willing to forgive it all, if we truly want to be forgiven and to live according to His ways. As 1 John 1:9 says: If you confess your sin, He (the Lord) is faithful and just to forgive you of your sin, and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness.

Through the blood of Jesus, shed for you and me on the Cross, we have forgiveness of our sins and mistakes. When we honestly admit we’ve done wrong, repent to God for it, make things right, and change how we act in the future, we are honoring the sacrifice that Jesus made for us.

What to Do When You Have Messed Up

In my life, as soon as I realize I’ve made a mistake, I go to God to make it right. That’s always the first step—to go to God the minute you realize that you have erred.

All it takes to give God your past is a simple, sincere prayer:

“God, I want to give You my past. Everything that is hurting and broken in me because of past mistakes, sins, and failures…I give it all to You now. Please forgive me, and set me free from anything that would hold me back. Help me to move forward in You, starting right now, with a clean slate, in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

When you pray a prayer like that and you mean it, God will honor it. And He can help you avoid trouble in the future too…when you are willing to listen to Him and allow Him to direct your path.

After you make things right with God, you can go to the second step and ask forgiveness from those you may have offended. Sometimes this means going to them personally, and if that’s not possible, God knows your heart.

It can sometimes be hard to humble ourselves to the people we’ve hurt… Sometimes it can be a powerful step to take if you want to move beyond the past and walk with freedom into the plans God has for you. You can’t control how others will respond, but you can make your heart and your actions right. And that’s a very important thing!

The third step is to forgive ourselves. Sometimes, this is the hardest thing for us to do. We think we should have done better, and we hold our mistakes against ourselves. But I believe that’s called pride—maybe it’s pride in reverse—and it’s not the biblical way to look at ourselves.

Romans 3:10 says, There is none righteous, no, not one. None of us are ever going to get it right 100% of the time, because there’s only one Person who is perfect and sinless—and that’s God.

So, let God be the Perfect One. And remember, you won’t always get things right. But you can repent, and you can be forgiven. And you can forgive yourself and move on!

The blood of Jesus can wash your sins and mistakes away… And you can receive His forgiveness and move forward with Him to do His will for your life.

Miracles happen because God is with us.

There are a lot of “it’s your time” stories in the Bible. Consider Moses. For 40 years, he hid out in the desert after having committed a crime, wondering if God could ever use him again. God met Moses at a burning bush and sent him back to Egypt to bring deliverance to two and a half million Israelites. It was Moses’ time for restoration and victory!

Remember David? He was tending sheep when his father told him to bring food to his brothers and check how the war was going against the Philistines. When David got there, he saw a Philistine giant named Goliath saying, “Send a man against me. If he defeats me, then the Philistines will serve Israel. But if I defeat him, Israel will be our slaves.”

Suddenly it became David’s time to rise up! He took five smooth stones in his slingshot, and using his faith in God, he defeated the great Goliath. The Philistines were defeated, and David eventually became king of Israel.

Then there were Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—three young Hebrew men who refused to bow to the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image. They said, “You can kill us, but we will not bow to your god.” When they were cast into the fire, Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit, traveled through time and space to enter that fiery furnace with them. Not even a hair on their head was burned! It was their time for deliverance!

I’ve got news for you. I believe it’s YOUR time to prosper and succeed! So because of that, I encourage you to…

Put yourself into position to receive.

You may say, “Richard, how do I receive what God has for me?” Let me share some insights from 2 Kings 7, where God moved powerfully in the lives of four lepers who suffered from a terrible disease. If God could move in their lives, He can move in ours too.

At the time, Samaria was being besieged by an enemy army. No one could get in or out, and there was nothing to eat. The four lepers were sitting by the city gates, and they were starving. But even in that dark hour, God was with them. It was their time! Look at how they received the powerful miracle God had for them…

First: the four men spoke a word in faith. They said, “Why are we sitting here until we die? Let’s get up and see what God will do for us.” What you say is so important to your deliverance. Speak the Word of God over your life, especially in challenging times. Don’t say what others are saying; say what God is saying.

Second: they rose up. You see, they knew everyone in the city was starving to death. But they refused to quit. They had a faith attitude. And you and I can have a faith attitude too. We are to cast down negative thinking and keep believing that God is turning things around for our good, no matter how the circumstances appear.

Third: the four men made a faith march. They got into motion. It may be your time, but the miracle

I ask the Lord to send His miracle-working power into every area of your life to bring you salvation, healing, forgiveness, deliverance, prosperity, and peace.4

you’re believing for might not happen until you do something in faith to receive it. The lepers put themselves in position for their miracle by moving toward the enemy’s camp! They met their enemy head-on with their faith.

Now, you may not be facing an army, but you may be facing something you’d like to improve—maybe a debt, a health problem, a job search, or a relationship problem. When you pray and speak God’s Word over the situation, you can move into position for a miracle. When you thank God for what He’s doing, even before you see the results, you can put yourself in place to receive His blessings.

When you plant a seed of your love, time, money, prayers, or whatever you have to give, you can say in faith, “God, it’s my time!” You can get into agreement with His ways of doing things, His ways of being, and His ways of bringing miracles to you.

Keep expecting your miracle!

The four lepers sowed what they had—their faith and their willingness to do something so that God could do His part. They marched toward the enemy camp to look for food. And God intervened! He miraculously multiplied the sound of their footsteps, so that it sounded like a huge army marching, instead of four leprous men.

The noise was so loud that the opposing general thought the Israelites had hired an army to fight for them. In their panic at the thought of being outnumbered, the entire opposing army fled, leaving behind all their tents, supplies, and food.

When the lepers got to the camp, it was deserted. There was plenty of food waiting for them. The lepers didn’t have to fight, because God fought for them. He made their way straight! The lepers began to gorge themselves until one of them said, “It isn’t right for us to keep this all to ourselves. Let’s go back into the city so we can share the food with everyone.” The city of Samaria was saved! It was their time for a miraculous turnaround.

Your time can start right now!

No matter what your circumstances are saying, you can choose this minute to believe God’s Word. Believe that it is YOUR time—RIGHT NOW!

I’m setting my faith with you now that this word is getting into your spirit so you can begin to believe God that this is YOUR TIME! In the name of Jesus, I command the devil to take his hands off your life. I ask the Lord to send His miracle-working power into every area of your life to bring you salvation, healing, forgiveness, deliverance, prosperity, and peace. And I’m not coming out of this prayer of agreement. I expect a miracle for YOU, in Jesus’ name!

When you plant a seed of your love, time, money, prayers, or whatever you have to give, you can say in faith, “God, it’s my time!”

I believe the God we serve is limitless! And the power to turn your situation around for good is in His hands… But do you know how to connect to His unlimited power?

The Bible is filled with examples of when God showed forth His power in unusual ways. He parted the Red Sea when the children of Israel were fleeing from Pharaoh’s army. He led Gideon and 300 Israelites to victory over an enemy of thousands. He multiplied five loaves and two fish to feed a crowd of five thousand.

So, if God can do such great miracles, then is what you are going through too big for Him to handle? Nothing is too hard for Him, according to Jeremiah 32:17. He is limitless!

I personally believe we can always ask Him for the healing, deliverance, abundance, and wisdom we need. And He can send us an answer in line with His Word, even in the most unusual ways!

To me, the key to receiving what He has for you is found in believing in Him and knowing how to connect yourself to His limitless power. I want to direct you to a story in the Bible that demonstrates what I mean about tapping into God’s unlimited supply.

An Unusual Healing from a Terrible Disease

Second Kings 5 tells us about Naaman the Syrian, when he obeyed the Word of the Lord given by the prophet Elisha. As he dipped seven times in the Jordan River, he was healed of leprosy.

Now, this was a very unusual miracle for several reasons. First of all, Naaman was a powerful man—the commander of the Syrian army—and he was not a worshipper of the Lord.

But he was also a leper. In those days, leprosy was a frightening disease. It caused skin lesions that left people horribly disfigured. It damaged nerves and left its victims weak in their body. Many lepers lost the use of their hands and feet, and many died. It was a terrible disease that limited people physically and often socially!

The sickness that had come against Naaman was from the devil, not God. This is so important to understand! Why would God want to teach you something by making you sick, poor, or oppressed? Why would He go against the truth in the Bible which says, God is your

It’s when we act on what we hear that we connect with God’s unlimited power.5

Healer? I believe He wants to take the limits off your life so you can live fully for Him!

The Miracle Began Simply

Naaman’s healing began very simply…right in his own home. Among his servants, there was a young Jewish girl who had been captured by the Syrians. One day as she was serving in Naaman’s home, she said, “If only my master Naaman went to see the prophet Elisha in Israel! Elisha is a man of God, who could heal him of his leprosy” (2 Kings 5:3–4).

When Naaman heard that, he had a choice. Would he believe it and do something about it, or would he doubt it and do nothing? That same choice determines what we receive from the Lord. God is not limited in power… But He won’t push Himself on us. We invite His limitless supply into our lives when we believe His Word.

The Bible tells us of so many people who received miracles after they acted on God’s Word in faith—even in situations where deliverance appeared to be impossible. In Matthew 8, the Roman centurion’s aide was healed. In Mark 5, the woman with the issue of blood was healed. In 1 Kings 17, the widow of Zarephath had a miracle multiplication of her food supply because she obeyed the word of Elijah to feed him first. And Naaman was healed when he acted on what he heard from the man of God.

I believe that’s a key to receiving from God. He can respond to you as you trust in His Word and reach out in faith to Him. It’s when we act on what we hear that we connect with God’s unlimited power.

Put Your Faith in God, Not Man

The servant girl told Naaman to go to a specific place and a specific person—Elisha the prophet in Israel.

The Bible teaches that Syria was a nation that worshipped false idols made out of stone and wood. Those false gods had no power to cure Naaman. The real power source was in Israel, working through the man of God—the prophet Elisha.

So, that’s where Naaman went. He went searching for healing. However, instead of going to the prophet Elisha, he went to the king of Israel. But the king of Israel had no power to bring a miracle.

Naaman almost missed it here, and so can we, if we’re not careful. Let’s face it, it’s tempting to look to the “kings” of our time for help. They often appear to have what we need, but they are limited because they are human. The Bible says that God alone is truly able to help us in all situations and that He is our very present help in time of trouble (Psalm 46:1). If you want the spiritual answer to your situation, then according to the Bible, you must go to God.

When you go to the man of God to connect with God’s power, remember it is not the man who heals you… The Lord is your Healer (Exodus 15:26). The man of God is God’s instrument. The spiritual power to change your situation is in God’s hands, not man’s. And because He knows no limits, He can help you and provide for you in ways you may never have imagined (Ephesians 3:20).

Obey God Fully—No Matter What

When Naaman finally went to Elisha, he expected the prophet to do something spectacular. But Elisha didn’t even go outside to greet him. Instead, he sent his servant Gehazi with a message: “Dip seven times in the Jordan River, and your flesh will become like that of a little child. You will be healed.”

Naaman was insulted. He said, “If I wanted to take a bath, I would have stayed at home.” Then he stormed off. But one of his military aides stopped him and in essence said, “Sir, you’re making a mistake. You’re throwing away your healing because the prophet Elisha told you to do something that you didn’t like. Isn’t it better to humble yourself before God and do what Elisha said?”

Naaman was tempted to limit God because God wasn’t meeting his expectations of how he wanted to be healed. But thankfully, Naaman listened to his aide’s good advice. He humbled himself, went back, and dipped seven times in the Jordan River, just as Elisha said.

This is so simple and yet it is so important… When you hear the Word of the Lord, obey it! At times, He may speak something to your heart that you may not understand. Like Naaman, you may be asked to do something that seems humbling. But if God is speaking to you, I encourage you to do what He says by faith, and expect His limitless power to go to work in your life.

It’s the faith you release that makes you whole…not the faith you hold back.

Naaman thought it made no sense to dip seven times in the Jordan River, but he did it. And on the seventh time, he came up out of the water totally healed! When he obeyed God fully, he received the miracle he needed. So since God is not a respecter of persons (Acts 10:34) and I believe He honors faith, how much more will God bless your obedience, because you are His child!

Your Faith Must Be Released

Naaman didn’t put his faith in the water of the Jordan River. His faith was in the Word of the God who created the water. When Naaman dipped in the river, he released his faith in the God who had the unlimited power to heal him of leprosy. And he received his healing!

I believe it’s the faith you release that makes you whole…not the faith you hold back. In other words, your faith is like a seed you plant… Only the seed you sow will grow into a harvest. The seed that you hold back is not being released so it doesn’t grow.

I believe that’s why God gave us the principle of seedtime and harvest to begin with. It’s a picture of how our faith works. First, we hear His Word, which is where faith comes from…so the Word is planted. Then, as faith grows in our hearts, we do something to release it, and as a result, we tap into God’s unlimited supply.

Regardless of how difficult your situation may seem, I believe God can handle it, even if He needs to do something unusual for you, just as He did for Naaman.

I believe God has a good harvest for you… And you can make the decision to act on His Word in faith and believe for God to meet your needs. To me, it’s exciting to be able to participate in our harvest by planting seed.

I encourage you to give the Lord a seed of your faith to work with today. Determine what you desire the Lord to do for you, according to the Bible. And remember, He is not limited by your circumstances!

Find the scripture verses that speak to your heart about your situation. Make those scriptures a part of your prayers and your daily confession of faith in the Lord.

Ask the Lord to show you the steps you can take to cooperate with Him, and do what He says, in faith, expecting your miracle. And then as you are expecting a miracle, watch as He can do His part and release His unlimited power into your life to deliver you!