Between sobs, the young woman on the telephone told me that her husband had just beaten her. I knew that the man had grown up with an abusive father, so it was not surprising that he followed that bad example.

Factors over which we have no control can profoundly shape us. But this does not mean that we are helpless pawns of our past. We have the ability to shape our attitudes and actions by choosing wisely the friends we make, the material we read, the entertainment we watch. Many children with awful backgrounds have become highly respected men and women.

As Christians, we must learn to make choices that reflect our relationship with our new Father in heaven, and not our old master, Satan. God wants us to reflect the image of our Savior. That's something we cannot do for ourselves just by making good choices. It requires the transforming work of the Holy Spirit.

In 2 Corinthians 3:18, Paul said this transformation occurs when we practice beholding "the glory of the Lord." This means making Jesus the focal point of our lives and submitting fully to Him as our Lord.

No matter what has happened in your past, are you letting God shape your present and your future?  — Herbert Vander Lugt