I love 2 Corinthians 5:17. It says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” Why do we hang out with thoughts from our past that can never be changed? It is not only futile, but it causes our body to stress.

Let me give you Strong’s definition of futile: fruitless, empty, hollow, unreal, unproductive, lacking substance, ineffectual, void of results, worthless. Paul encouraged Timothy to, “…pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.”

To pursue righteousness means to conform our thoughts, purpose, and actions to God’s will and ways. When our mind wanders back to dwell in our past, we bring that thought captive. How? Simply by training our next thought to be a righteous one. What does Scripture say is God’s will? 1 Thessalonians 5:18 is to give thanks.