Reader question: Should I destroy my diary?

Someone recently wrote to ask whether or not she should destroy her diary because it “keeps her mired in the past” – a past fraught with sexual and emotional abuse.

YES, I told her – destroy this thing immediately! The past is gone; it is dead – unless you CHOOSE to keep fanning the embers. But, why do that, when you don’t live there anymore? By reading and re-reading those memories, you are keeping the past alive and fresh, and allowing those who hurt you to continue controlling you and your every decision today.

Let go! Give it all to YHWH/Yeshua, and just let go! He doesn’t want people clinging to their past as if it’s some life preserver - because, what you perceive as “important” to hang on to, is nothing but a boulder around your neck that will ultimately cause you to drown. See Philippians 3 and the following scriptures:

Luke 9:62 Y’shua said to him, No man places his hand upon the handle of a plough and looks backwards and is useful to the Kingdom of Elohim. (AENT)

Isaiah 43: 18 "Stop dwelling on past events and brooding over times gone by; 19 I am doing something new; it's springing up - can't you see it? I am making a road in the desert, rivers in the wasteland. (CJB)

Proverbs 4: 25 Let your eyes look forward, And your eyelids look straight before you. 26 Consider the path of your feet, And all your ways are established. 27 Do not turn to the right or the left; Turn your foot away from evil. (ISR)

Colossians 3: 2 Mind the matters above, not those on the earth. 3 For you have died, and your life has been hidden with Messiah in Elohim. :4 When the Messiah, who is our life, is manifested, then you also shall be manifested with Him in esteem. 5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: whoring, uncleanness, passion, evil desire and greed of gain, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these the wrath of Elohim is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you also once walked when you lived in them.

8 But now, also put off all these: displeasure, wrath, evil, blasphemy, filthy talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have put off the old man with his practices 10 and have put on the new one who is renewed in knowledge according to the likeness of Him who created him, 11 where there is not Greek and Yehuḏite, circumcised and uncircumcised, foreigner, Scythian, slave, free, but Messiah is all, and in all.

12 Therefore, as chosen ones of Elohim, set-apart and beloved, put on compassion, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, patience, 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other if anyone has a complaint against another, indeed, as Messiah forgave you so also should you. (ISR)