WE LAY OUR PAST AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS AND WALK IN NEWFOUND FREEDOM
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“The Lord says, ‘Do not cling to events of the past or dwell on what happened long ago.'” – Isaiah 43:18 –
We are new creations in Christ. The old has passed away and we are reborn. We become new creations at salvation when we turn from our sins and we turn to Christ. His Spirit comes to live within us… guiding us, counseling us, comforting us.
Our sins are forever forgiven in Christ. We walk in newness of life. Yet our past is not erased. The baggage of our past is still a part of us. We still have our memories… the bad memories often outweighing the good in our minds. How do we release these cumbersome burdens of our life before Christ?
“To you who fear My name, the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings.” – Malachi 4:2
Our hurts, regrets, sins and failures have wounded our souls. They will continue to affect our daily spiritual walk until we turn them over to the Lover of our souls. Only He can heal the wounds and restore our lives.
As we recognize these dark memories of past sorrows and pain, we lay them at the foot of the cross. We give them to our Lord who will heal our woundedness. Because Jesus has showered us with His lovingkindness, we can let go of our past bit by bit… piece by piece… memory by memory.
“I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the Light of life.” – John 8:12
Jesus frees us from our past mistakes… our poor choices… our defeats. He frees us from all the ways we’ve failed Him, others and ourselves. He releases us from the guilt of our sins (Psalm 32:5).
Jesus desires our freedom that was hard won by Him at the cross. He laid down His life not so we could struggle through our lives weighed down by our past. He gave His life so we could live in freedom. He longs for us to experience His rest.
The Light of His presence shines within us and overcomes the darkness of our past. We will still have the memories… yet He will remove their sting. The hurt is washed away in the glory of His Light and grace. We move into freedom in Christ. We step out of the past and into the glorious future He has planned for us.
“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28
Come to Jesus and experience His abiding love. Let His Light shine into the darkness of your soul to heal your woundedness. He will bear your pain, your guilt, your regrets. For He paid the highest price for our healing and our freedom. His gentle, loving presence will fill you with peace. The rest your soul has been searching for can only be found in Him.
Let Jesus today release you from the burdens of your past. Let Him heal the sting of your bad memories. Yield to Him every painful reminder that wells up within you. Leave them all at the foot of the cross. Soon you will begin to experience His freedom like never before.
Lord Jesus, here at Your cross, I lay my past down… all my mistakes, my wanderings, my failures, my regrets. In You I am a new creation. I am not who I was in the past, but who I am now and forevermore in You. It is no longer about what I did, but about what I am doing now for You and Your kingdom. It is about the amazing future You have for me. I am free in You. In Your merciful forgiveness, I forgive. In Your glorious grace, I give grace. In Your encompassing love, I give love. Amen.