Embracing Grace: Letting Go of Your Past
When I became a Christian, I didn’t understand the kind of people God uses. I assumed I wasn’t spiritual enough for God to use me. I’d done some bad things in my life, and I was ashamed. My painful awareness of my sinful past made it difficult for me to experience the forgiveness of God. Sometimes the past gnaws at you.
One day, I was repenting for a sin that had haunted me for a long time. I’d probably repented of it at least a hundred times. The sin had happened before I got saved, but I couldn’t get it out of my mind. As I prayed, the Lord asked me a question: “What are you talking about? I don’t remember that sin at all.”
Suddenly, I realized I’d read passages that promised God’s complete forgiveness, and I felt so relieved. King David had committed adultery and murder. On top of that, he was a lousy father. If anyone had a reason to wallow in shame, he did! But he wrote:
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us (Psalm 103:11–12).
John promised, “If we confess our sins, [God] is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). And God promised, “For I will forgive their wickedness. And will remember their sins no more” (Hebrews 8:12).
Of course, God is omniscient. He knows everything that has ever been and ever will be. This passage means He chooses not to remember our sins against us in any way. Once we have asked for forgiveness, God graciously forgives our sins, but our human nature doesn’t allow us to forget.
Some of us have a terrible blend of tender hearts and haunted memories, and we’re plagued with guilt. Until we understand and experience God’s grace, we will always feel like we are in trouble.
So how do we break free from the chains of shame? By meditating on God's promises and asking Him to help us experience His forgiveness deep in our souls.
Every time those old accusations resurface, counter them with the truth of God's Word. Remind yourself that if you've confessed, God has already forgiven and forgotten.
Takeaway
God's forgiveness is complete and irreversible. He removes our sins entirely and chooses not to remember them against us. Regardless of our past transgressions, God can use us as we walk in freedom.
Excerpted from The God Nudge: Learning To Flow In The Supernatural