Shake Off the Past

Some things from the past have a way of clinging to us in the same way. Regret, hurt, shame, missed opportunities—the memories creep in when you least expect it— “Bam.” So, what do you do with it?  God never calls you to live in the past and remember the stink. He calls you forward toward His purpose, promises, and prize.

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
– Philippians 3:13-14 ESV

Paul understood this well. He had plenty of reasons to dwell on his past—he had persecuted Christians before encountering Jesus. Yet, instead of letting shame hold him back, he pressed on. He didn’t deny where he had been but refused to let it define him. His focus was on Jesus, not what he (Saul/Paul) had done.

You can do the same. The past may have shaped you, but it can’t hold you hostage unless you let it.
Regrets lose their grip when you surrender them to God.
Old wounds heal when you stop reopening them.
Fear of failure fades when you trust that God is already in your future.

Moving forward takes intentionality—you shift your perspective from what was to what is ahead. The enemy wants to keep you stuck, but God always calls you forward.

Jesus already redeemed what was and invites you to press forward.

Maybe you’ve hesitated to step into something new because you feel unworthy or incapable. Perhaps you’ve convinced yourself that your best days are behind you. But God isn’t finished with you. He is always at work, shaping, refining, and preparing you for what’s next. The past is not your identity but tuition for wisdom and experience. Your failures are not your future. Jesus has already redeemed what was, and He’s inviting you into what will be.

Let go of past mistakes, the weight of disappointments, and the fear that history will repeat itself. Lift your eyes to the One who holds your future. Press on. Move forward confidently, knowing that God’s plans for you are good. The past is done, but His work in you is not.

Today’s One Thing
Remind yourself and state, “Because of Christ, I am cleansed from past mistakes, and I press forward embracing God’s blessings and promises.”

Go Deeper

Go Deeper

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