Past

Past

MY QUESTION for GOD

I can’t seem to shake some things from my past. Can God help me overcome them?

A MOMENT with GOD

When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.

Psalm 32:3-5

I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word. . . . I will never forget your commandments, for by them you give me life.

Psalm 119:16, 93

Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.

Isaiah 1:18

The past is like a photo album containing snapshots of every moment of your life. These snapshots show not just your happy moments and celebrations, but also your failures, tragedies, and acts of deepest shame. Most of us would like to lock away some parts of our past or tear out the snapshots that expose the moments we’d like to forget. The apostle Paul, who is one of the greatest leaders in the New Testament, had a past he wished he could forget. His album was full of snapshots recording his days of persecuting and killing Christians. Paul could have been burdened with immense regret, but he understood that his past had been redeemed through God’s healing and forgiveness. How you view your past will affect how you live in the present and in the future. It even affects how you lead. Some of us have a past containing a strong spiritual heritage from loving parents and mentors. Don’t take that for granted; use it to help and minister to others. Some of us have a past filled with regrets over actions that were wrong or hurtful. No matter what you’ve done, God is ready to forgive you, cleanse you of sin and guilt, and give you a new start—fully forgiven. Your difficult life journey, along with your experience of God’s unconditional forgiveness, can help you be an even more effective leader. God wants to throw away all the bad snapshots and give you a new present and future—and he can if you’ll let him. God can remove your regret, guilt, and shame, and you can be free to live in peace with purpose and joy.

DIVINE PROMISE

I WILL FORGIVE THEIR WICKEDNESS, AND I WILL NEVER AGAIN REMEMBER THEIR SINS.

Hebrews 8:12