We all have a past. The older you get, the more of a past you have, the more experiences and regrets you accumulate. What I find interesting is how differently we can look at our past. There are many parts of my past that I don't even remember (thankfully). I made many unwise decisions and choices in my late teens and early 20's. For years, I allowed my past failures, mistakes and decisions to define me. For example, I am single, divorced single person to be specific; so I have a failed relationship in my past. I carried the weight of that failed marriage around with me. Galatians 5:1 says "It is for freedom that Christ set us free, therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject to a yoke of slarvery again." As I ponder this, God is forgiving. ...God is love I John 4:8b--I know and believe it. So why did I keep carrying the weight of this failure after receiving forgiveness from God?
Perspective. It's a matter of perspective. I allowed my past to define me (failure) you can fill in your own blank. I now have a different perspective. When I look at my past experiences rather than regret, remorse and feeling like a failure I can now see a confident woman in Christ. Those past experiences keep me moldable in the potters hand. I wouldn't be the person I am today without all of those past experiences. Each of those past experiences I had God with me. They weren't easy but God was there holding my hand each step of the way. He says that He will never leave nor forsake us. Deuteronomy 31:8
Praise be to God that I do not have to let my past define me! I am the growing image of Christ being molded daily on the potters wheel Isaiah 64:8 says "Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand." God uses our past to bring glory to Himself and mold us into Christ's image.
I am reminded of Isaiah 43:18 God tells us through the prophet Isaiah, "Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past." and tells us Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! in 2 Corinthians 5:17
I would be remiss if I didn't mention it but we must 1) repent of our past sin/mistake if we haven't already and 2) seek God as to what He would have you learn from the situation then.....
May you see the sum of your past through new eyes tonight and never be held back by your past mistakes again.
