Overcoming Our Past
For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.
Psalm 51:3-4
Psalm 51 reveals David’s repentance, but although God has forgiven him he suffered worldly consequences because of his sin. David states that my sin is always before me. Do we sometimes carry our past with us even though we are forgiven? Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62). How can we fulfill this verse if we cannot forgive ourselves and put our sins behind us and move forward? For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more (Hebrews 8:12). God can forgive us and remember our sins no more, but we are not God so how do we forget our past?
The first step in overcoming our past is to seek forgiveness with a repentant heart. Our Godly sorrow leads us to repent which means we seek forgiveness and the power to overcome the sin. We can overcome the sin, but can we erase it from conscious mind?
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me (Psalm 51:10-12). From Psalm 51 we can read that David had a difficult time in overcoming the thoughts of his sin and he prayed that God would restore the joy of your salvation and a willing spirit. It seems David may have been feeling guilty and depressed, but he prayed God would restore him. God answered his prayer and David moved ahead in life with a humble heart, although he experienced the consequences of his sin.
The task for us to pray that God will remove our guilt and any depression, so we can continue to serve the Lord with fire in our soul. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21). This verse will apply in overcoming our past sins. If we proceed into the future with a focus on serving the Lord, God’s divine power will free us from our past. We focus on ministering to lost souls and fellowship with our Christian family because this pleases God and he blesses us with freedom in Christ. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery (Galatians 5:1). We are free and no longer in bondage to our past.
But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison (Acts 8:3). The apostle Paul persecuted Christians until the Lord changed him and he served the Lord with fire in his soul to his last breath. Paul overcame his past by fearlessly serving the Lord, living for Christ. What the Lord did for Paul he will do for us, free us from our past.
Today overcome any past sins by asking for forgiveness with a repentant heart, and move on serving the Lord. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective (James 5:16). After the Lord forgives, confess your sins to a close Christian friend or a Christian counselor, so you can be further comforted and healed.
Prayer: Lord thank you for forgiving my sins and remembering them no more. Help me to overcome my past and live for you in the future. Free me from my past so I serve you with a fire in my soul, reflecting your love, peace, and joy. In Jesus name, Amen