21. The Art of Spiritual Forgetting

Become New with John Ortberg

Today, we’re talking about the rule of forgetfulness. Paul had a few words to say on the matter. In Philippians 3, he says he presses on, “forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.” That’s spiritual forgetting. Paul wasn’t a proponent of amnesia or repression or wishful thinking, but rather a disciplined letting go that makes room for healing and growth. That’s what we can choose to take part in, too. 

00:00 — What is the art of spiritual forgetting?
00:35 — Why forgetting is one of the mind’s great successes
01:24 — What Paul says about forgetting in Philippians 3
02:12 — Why spiritual life is about progress, not perfection
03:40 — What is the “one thing” life is about?
05:22 — The three benefits of forgetting: healing, clarity, creativity
06:54 — Forgetting wrongs and achievements that paralyze us
07:24 — The Ted Lasso goldfish lesson on memory
08:39 — Why forgetting is not repression or denial
09:57 — How to practice biblical forgetting by pressing on
10:30 — Miroslav Volf: why forgetting is “not coming to mind”
11:59 — Punch ignore: how to stop being tormented by the past
12:47 — What guilt or hurt do you need to release today?

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Music in this episode: Starry Dream - Uptempo by A. Blomqvist MB01OKHAB5EAUXF

More description

Today, we’re talking about the rule of forgetfulness. Paul had a few words to say on the matter. In Philippians 3, he says he presses on, “forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.” That’s spiritual forgetting. Paul wasn’t a proponent of amnesia or repression or wishful thinking, but rather a disciplined letting go that makes room for healing and growth. That’s what we can choose to take part in, too. 

00:00 — What is the art of spiritual forgetting?
00:35 — Why forgetting is one of the mind’s great successes
01:24 — What Paul says about forgetting in Philippians 3
02:12 — Why spiritual life is about progress, not perfection
03:40 — What is the “one thing” life is about?
05:22 — The three benefits of forgetting: healing, clarity, creativity
06:54 — Forgetting wrongs and achievements that paralyze us
07:24 — The Ted Lasso goldfish lesson on memory
08:39 — Why forgetting is not repression or denial
09:57 — How to practice biblical forgetting by pressing on
10:30 — Miroslav Volf: why forgetting is “not coming to mind”
11:59 — Punch ignore: how to stop being tormented by the past
12:47 — What guilt or hurt do you need to release today?

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.
TEXT US at 855-888-0444
EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe
GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text BECOME to 855-888-0444
SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team

😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/
🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/

Music in this episode: Starry Dream - Uptempo by A. Blomqvist MB01OKHAB5EAUXF

2025-09-22 14 min
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