“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come; the old is gone, and the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Your life in Christ is beautiful. Do you know that? His precious blood has cleansed you from sin and shame and you have been made new. Therefore, when past sins are remembered, there is no reason to leave them alone. There is no benefit to repeating it in your head. And nothing good comes from feeling guilty again.
The Bible assures us of our safety in Christ and that our identity is marked by His love and grace. Our mistakes do not define us. God does. Throughout the Bible, we are reminded of the Savior’s forgiveness, salvation, and invitation to abide. So, here are some things to do when you are reminded of past sins.
Remember the extent of God’s forgiveness
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
Because human forgiveness often has limits, we sometimes think that God’s forgiveness also has limits. But thanks to the Lord’s mercy, we will not be destroyed. (Lamentations 3:22) Every confession we make is like a covenant between us and our Creator, who is faithful to forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. And you know what? The Lord does not withdraw His promises.
“The Lord is trustworthy in all He promises and faithful in all He does” (Psalm 145:13).
“No matter how many promises God has made, they are just as they are in Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:20).
“The Lord himself will go before you and be with you; he will never leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 31:8).
Corrie ten Boom said, “God takes our past, present, and future sins and throws them into the ocean with a no-fishing sign.” What a helpful picture of our sins being cast into the depths of the sea, never to be brought up again. At this time we sincerely confess that God will remove them from afar, from the east to the west. God is faithful to forgive us, cleanse us, and keep us from sin and shame.
In her article “8 Important Things to Understand and Remember About God’s Forgiveness,” Meg Butcher writes, “God’s forgiveness is a gift… God is not only faithful to forgive the sins we see and confess, but He also intends to move our hearts to look at other areas of our lives where sin is interfering with our freedom in Christ.”
Don’t let reminders of past sins hinder your freedom in Christ. Remember the scope of God’s forgiveness and be encouraged by the words of Numbers 23:19: “God is not a man. He should lie and not change his mind. Does God speak and not act? Does God make promises and not fulfill them?”
Remember the blessings of faith in Christ
“I was crucified with Christ and no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).
Faith is not based on emotion, but when past sins come to mind, strong emotions can be aroused and one may question one’s commitment to God. But remember, you are no longer living according to the flesh, but according to faith in the Son of God. No matter how small, your faith is powerful!
• Prayer of faith is healing. (James 5:15)
• A declaration of faith helps us overcome. (1 John 5:4)
・Walking in faith gives us courage. (2 Corinthians 5:6-7)
In the post “Wearing Our Faith in Christ Proudly,” the author writes, “We will never be perfect people on this earth. Following Christ gives us comfort in that we don’t have to be.” Her words remind us that despite our imperfect lives, we have faith in a perfect Savior who blesses us with renewed hearts, minds, and spirits.
The next time you are reminded of a past sin, say it out loud: “I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
When faith is in motion, no embarrassing memories remain. Pray, declare, and take the next faithful step. The Lord your God will equip you to resist your painful past and move forward with clarity and peace.
Remember the importance of complying
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and have abided in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:9-11 ESV)
Staying in God’s love is the key to dealing with past regrets. There is no room for self-condemnation as you visualize the tenderness in the eyes of your Father as he looks at you with the greatest love ever. Oswald Chambers once said: “There is no condition in life where we cannot abide in Jesus.”
God’s love erases what we think of as eternal stains. God’s grace and mercy flow to us in purity and light. We are clothed with Christ’s righteousness and abide in His love.
“Abide” means to abide, dwell, constantly exist. When we hold fast to the love of Jesus, live in it, and are always surrounded by it, our joy is complete. Memories of the past fade and the pain becomes less.
We can’t always control what comes to mind, but we can control how we react to those thoughts. As 2 Corinthians 10:5 says, “We destroy every argument and every pretense that is contrary to the knowledge of God, and take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
The love of Christ has the power to crush the arguments of past sins. His kindness extinguishes the enemy’s fiery darts before they can reach us.
When past sins come to mind, remember the extent of God’s forgiveness. It is the distance from east to west. Remember the blessing of your faith, the newness you have in Christ Jesus. And remember the importance of abiding, of remaining in the constant presence of the Savior.
Personal prayer for letting go of past sins:
Father, according to your word, you have removed my sins far and wide, from the east to the west. (Psalm 103:12) I trust you in this. Therefore, I release you from all sins, past, present and future. Please help me to thwart the plans of the evil one and resist the temptation to dwell on failure. In You I am completely victorious and walk in the light of Your love. I choose to remain in you because you are the way, the truth, and the life. In the name of Jesus, amen.
More resources for your journey:
Healing from regret in a broken world
greater than all regrets
Goodbye, shame and regret. Hello freedom and purpose
Photo provided by: ©SWN/CanvaPro
Jennifer Waddle is the author of several books, including Prayer WORRIER: Turning Every Worry into Powerful Prayer, and a regular contributor to LifeWay, Crosswalk, Abide, and Christians Care International. Jennifer’s online ministry is EncouragementMama.com, where you can find her books and subscribe to her weekly post, “Disappointment Can’t Win.” She lives with her family near her favorite place on earth, the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.
