Past

past - Can I live a healthy, godly life despite my past?

[The LORD said,] “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow.”

Isaiah 1:18

I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Philippians 3:13-14

Fear not; you will no longer live in shame. Don’t be afraid; there is no more disgrace for you. You will no longer remember the shame of your youth.

Isaiah 54:4

OUR MEMORIES of the past are like photo albums that contain snapshots of our lives. Some snapshots are of happy moments and celebrations; others record our failures, tragedies, and shameful actions. Most of us would like to tear out the snapshots that expose the parts we’d prefer to forget. The apostle Paul, considered one of the great leaders in the New Testament, had a past he wished he could forget: persecuting and killing Christians. But Paul understood that his past had been redeemed through God’s healing and forgiveness. How we view our pasts will affect how we live in the present and the future. Some of us have a positive past with a strong spiritual heritage. We shouldn’t take that for granted but should use it to help others. Some of us have a past filled with regrets. No matter what you’ve done, God is ready (and able!) to forgive you and give you a fresh start.

Prayer Prompts

Lord, when I think about my past, I feel . . .

Your Word assures me I can courageously face the future because . . .