Redeeming Your Past and Shifting Your Future!

Do you see patterns in your life that keep you on the path of failure? Maybe you feel like you are in a ditch and can’t find your way out. Sometimes it is repeating cycles in your family like cancer or being susceptible to addiction. I want to share with you how God helps us overcome these patterns.

A Course Shift!

When I was fifteen years old that was a summer of learning about boys and dating. This was a time of innocence and exploration during the late 1960’s. My friends and I would go to recreational center for dancing, roller skating, and camping out. I remember crawling out the window of the dances to meet boys. If you were holding hands and got a quick kiss it was considered a big deal. It was during that summer that I got mononucleosis. I missed three weeks of school and could not take gym for that quarter of the school year.

Why is this mononucleosis episode important? This disease changed the course of my life. Because I couldn’t go to physical education workouts, I went to the library and was in with a group of senior boys. During this time, I met a young man and fell in love. We were engaged that Christmas. I was just turning sixteen and it changed my plans to attend college. We stayed together for two and a half years. It was not a good relationship, but I couldn’t see what was happening around me at that time. Now I look back and see how it changed the course of my life. Eventually, I had to leave town to get away from him. That is when I joined the US Air Force at the end of the Vietnam War. Even then he followed me by joining the US Air Force, but we were stationed at different bases. Forty-Five years later God revealed this course shift.

Redeeming What Was Stolen!

My friend, Cindy, had gotten a word for me during her church service. The song A Million Little Miracles was being played during worship. God spoke to her and said, “This is for Ruth. A million little miracles.” When she told me about this word from God, I decided to see what miracles I needed and what my friends and family needed. God started revealing things that were stolen in my life which revealed the time I had mononucleosis and how it changed my path. I repented for that summer in the late 1960’s for all the mistakes I made. I asked God to redeem these lost events.

Now when I ask God to redeem or restore something that was lost, I never know how He is going to answer that request. I never box Him in by telling Him what to do. I just trust Him and watch for the answers to the request. To my surprise, I got mononucleosis over the 2025 Christmas holiday. My throat was so sore I had to go on steroids to reduce the swelling. My neck glands swelled up like a football player who lifted weights. Instead of getting mad at God, I realized this was sign that God was redeeming my past mistakes. Satan was mad because he doesn’t want anyone to have victory over his attacks. I started declaring, “My immune system is being restore to its full potential.” My immune system had been compromised when I went through chemotherapy and radiation from breast and bone cancer. So, my glands that swelled in my neck and under my arms were a good sign my immune system was working.

I was wise walking through this sickness. I rested and didn’t push myself because I was so tired. It had taken almost nine months to get over this when I was fifteen. All the medical reports on mononucleosis said it can take months or years to overcome this sickness. I kept declaring my immune system was being restored. I had my friend Amber pray for me. I took Olive Leaf which my friend Michelle said helped fight mononucleosis. Five weeks later, I am totally healed. I have been out shoveling five inches of snow. I used my snow rake to pull off the snow drifts on my roof. I am feeling better than I have for years. Plus, I am in my seventies. God is so good!

Don’t Give Up!

I want to encourage you to ask God to reveal patterns and things that were stolen in your life. It is never to later to give these things to God and have Him redeem them. Restoration is part of our inheritance. Look at Abram and Sarai! After reaching their 90’s they received a promise from God about having children. They both laughed but God changed their names to Abraham, meaning father of many nations. Sarai named was changed to Sarah, meaning my princess, at the age of ninety. A year later Sarah bore Isaac.

Sometimes it isn’t our fault when our plans get crushed. Other times in life other people’s decisions delay God’s plans. Joshua and Caleb had to wait for close to forty years to enter into the promise land. Notice that Joshua and Caleb didn’t play the blame game. They prepared their people to be ready to take the promise land. Our attitude should be no matter what happens, someway and somehow God is going to work it out for our good.

Prayer

Father God,

I have had a lot of detours and wrong choices in my life. I ask You to show me what I need to change. Forgive me for those choices. I choose to forgive others who may have made my life harder. I want Your redeeming power in my life. Even in what looks like hopeless situations, I am choosing to trust You. Jesus, your blood paid for all the mistake I have made, are making, and will make. Guide me to Your original intended purpose and path for my life. Show me what needs to be restored and remove anything that would hinder my walk with You. Holy Spirit please help me to walk through this process of restoration with your wisdom and grace. Because of Jesus, amen!

Scriptures

Genesis 17, Numbers 13, Deuteronomy 1:36, Joshua 3 and 14:6 – 13, and Romans 8:28.