You might know that I am a bit of a nut when it comes to these national special days. Did you know that today (March 9) is “National Get Over It Day”? National Get Over It Day was created in 2005 by Jeff Goldblatt who was struggling to get over a breakup. He started this day as a way to mentally make a break, get over something from the past, and commit to living anew.
National Get Over It Day. Huh. How does that strike you, that there even is such a thing? Do you have something you’re struggling to get over? Does it help knowing there is actually a day set aside to make a clean mental and emotional break? Do you think it will work?
What if I were to tell you that every day can be a get-over-it kind of day? For the Jesus follower, we know that because of God’s never ending love, His mercies are new for us each and every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23). Undoubtedly, though, we all have something that gnaws at us, keeps us up at night, and causes us to question our salvation. I have good news for you, though: whatever it is that plagues you in your darkest moments, it pales to the glory of God for you and me that furiously shines in a new life with Jesus!
So what if I were to tell you the best way to actually get over something is to actually set your mind above the stuff that seems to want to hold you back and keep you down. Consider what Paul wrote in Colossians 3:1-17…
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kinidness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (NIV)
Paul also wrote in Romans 12:2 that we are transformed by the renewal of our mind.
How frequently do we dwell on the old stuff, the painful stuff, the stuff we messed up, or the consequences we must carry because of someone else’s mistakes? It seems to me a lot. I know personally I can dwell on these things, and in so doing, keep my mind fixed on things “below” as opposed to things “above” where God is. When that happens, I need to get over where my mind wants to be into the open spaces where it needs to be.
On this, the 11th anniversary of the first National Get Over It Day, if you have something that’s dragging you down, get over it by reminding yourself that your old way of living is buried with Christ so you can be resurrected daily into the glory of God. Set your mind on the things that honors and glorifies the Lord. Focusing on God’s ways, and serving others accordingly, is truly the best way to get over it and stay above the mental and emotional fray. And in all honesty, you don’t need a “holiday” to do so, just a chance to be reminded that God’s mercies are indeed new for you each and every day, and commit to live according to that new life thanks to Jesus.
Have a great rest of the week, and I hope to see you Sunday when we talk about the perpetual problem of gossip in our lives, both individually and corporately.
Pastor Mark
