Dear friends,
Today, we are going to talk about the important topic of leaving the past behind. This is a theme that resonates deeply with many of us as we navigate through life. Our past can often hold us back, filling us with regret, guilt, or even sadness. But our loving God encourages us to move forward, to embrace the new life He offers through His Son, Jesus Christ.
God, in His infinite wisdom, understands the struggles we face with our past. He knows the burdens we carry, the mistakes we’ve made, and the pain we’ve endured. Yet, He calls us to release these burdens and to trust in His plan for our future. The Bible tells us that in Christ, we are a new creation. The old things have passed away, and new things have come. This means that no matter what we have done or what has been done to us, we have the chance to start anew.
Consider the story of the Apostle Paul, dear brothers and sisters. Paul, once known as Saul, was a man who persecuted Christians with a fervent passion. He was present at the stoning of Stephen and was a feared figure among early Christians. However, Paul’s encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus changed his life forever. He left his past behind and became one of the most influential apostles, spreading the gospel far and wide. Paul’s story is a powerful reminder that no matter how dark our past may be, God’s grace is sufficient to redeem us and set us on a new path.
Another example is the story of Joseph. Sold into slavery by his own brothers, Joseph could have easily been consumed by bitterness and resentment. Yet, he chose to trust in God’s plan. He rose to a position of great power in Egypt and was able to save his family from famine. Joseph’s ability to forgive and move beyond his past enabled him to fulfill God’s purpose for his life.
Dear friends, it is crucial for us to remember that holding on to the past can hinder our growth and our relationship with God. He desires for us to look ahead, to the future He has prepared for us. By focusing on His promises and trusting in His love, we can leave behind our past and step into the wonderful plans He has for us.
Dear friends, now let’s see the Bible scriptures below that talk about leaving the past behind.
“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ”
— Philippians 1:6
“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, reaching forth unto those things which are beforeI press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”
— Philippians 3:13-14
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto GodAnd the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts minds through Christ JesusFinally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, if there be any praise, think on these things”
— Philippians 4:6-8
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee”
— Isaiah 26:3
“Thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, when ye turn to the left”
— Isaiah 30:21
“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, not be weary; they shall walk, not faint”
— Isaiah 40:31
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness”
— Isaiah 41:10
“Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of oldBehold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert”
— Isaiah 43:18-19
“For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, I know that I shall not be ashamed”
— Isaiah 50:7
“For, behold, I create new heavens a new earth: the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind”
— Isaiah 65:17
“Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God”
— Luke 9:62
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them”
— Ephesians 2:10
“That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lustsAnd be renewed in the spirit of your mindAnd that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness true holiness”
— Ephesians 4:22-24
“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)”
— Hebrews 10:23
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, the sin which doth so easily beset us, let us run with patience the race that is set before us”
— Hebrews 12:1
“Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear SonIn whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins”
— Colossians 1:13-14
“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of GodSet your affection on things above, not on things on the earth”
— Colossians 3:1-2
“Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deedsAnd have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him”
— Colossians 3:9-10
“The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe”
— Proverbs 29:25
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; lean not unto thine own understandingIn all thy ways acknowledge him, he shall direct thy paths”
— Proverbs 3:5-6
“Let thine eyes look right on, let thine eyelids look straight before theePonder the path of thy feet, let all thy ways be establishedTurn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil”
— Proverbs 4:25-27
“Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, acceptable, perfect, will of God”
— Romans 12:2
“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost”
— Romans 15:13
“Not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patienceAnd patience, experience; experience, hopeAnd hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us”
— Romans 5:3-5
“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life”
— Romans 6:4
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the SpiritFor the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin death”
— Romans 8:1-2
“We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose”
— Romans 8:28
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, gave himself for me”
— Galatians 2:20
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage”
— Galatians 5:1
“Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not”
— Galatians 6:9
“As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us”
— Psalm 103:12
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, a light unto my path”
— Psalm 119:105
“Surely goodness mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever”
— Psalm 23:6
“I will instruct thee teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye”
— Psalm 32:8
“The righteous cry, the Lord heareth, delivereth them out of all their troublesThe Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; saveth such as be of a contrite spirit”
— Psalm 34:17-18
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord : he delighteth in his wayThough he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand”
— Psalm 37:23-24
“He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, set my feet upon a rock, established my goingsAnd he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, fear, shall trust in the Lord”
— Psalm 40:2-3
“Be still, know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth”
— Psalm 46:10
“He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea”
— Micah 7:19
“A new heart also will I give you, a new spirit will I put within you: I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, I will give you an heart of flesh”
— Ezekiel 36:26
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, his righteousness; all these things shall be added unto you”
— Matthew 6:33
“No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, the rent is made worseNeither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, the wine runneth out, the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, both are preserved”
— Matthew 9:16-17
“It is of the Lord ‘s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail notThey are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness”
— Lamentations 3:22-23
“He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. he said unto me, Write: for these words are true faithful”
— Revelation 21:5
“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him”
— James 1:12
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid”
— John 14:27
“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, ordained you, that ye should go bring forth fruit, that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you”
— John 15:16
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world”
— John 16:33
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life”
— John 5:24
“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed”
— John 8:36
“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest”
— Joshua 1:9
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord , thoughts of peace, not of evil, to give you an expected end”
— Jeremiah 29:11
“Be strong of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee”
— Deuteronomy 31:6
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, renewing of the Holy Ghost”
— Titus 3:5
“The Lord shall fight for you, ye shall hold your peace”
— Exodus 14:14
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Bible teaches us the importance of leaving the past behind and focusing on the new life that God offers. Verses like Isaiah 43:18-19 remind us not to dwell on the past but to be open to the new things God is doing. Philippians 3:13-14 encourages us to forget what lies behind and strain forward to what lies ahead, pressing on towards the goal. By embracing these teachings, we learn that holding on to past mistakes, regrets, or hurts can hinder our spiritual growth and relationship with God. Applying these lessons in our lives means actively seeking God’s guidance and strength to let go of the past, forgiving ourselves and others, and trusting in His plans for our future. This mindset helps us live more fulfilled and purpose-driven lives, rooted in faith and hope for the future.