Welcome back to the book club series! Hopefully you’ve joined the book club and picked up a copy of Fervent by Priscilla Shirer. Either way, I’m excited you are joining me today! Currently, we are halfway through Fervent by Priscilla Shirer so it isn’t too late to pick up your own copy or download. I’m excited to say that I have new books on the must read menu that are in the works. Now, let’s explore Prayer Strategy 5 of Your Past together…

I don’t know about you, but I have a past. A past with painful memories and regrets. A past that can pull me down with guilt and shame if I let it. God has really pulled me out of some shameful times and He can with you too.

If we aren’t careful, the enemy can use our past to keep us from our future. That’s why I love this chapter in the book Fervent called “Your Past”. Priscilla Shirer, author of this book, had painful memories dating back to her college days involving a particular exit off a highway in Houston, TX. Every time should would pass by a cringe and feel this wave of guilt rush over here.

Priscilla was with some ladies headed toward a speaking engagement when they passed the dreaded exit. Flashbacks filled her memory but it was different this time. She sensed the voice of God saying, wipe your tears away. That road is behind you now. I have other roads in store for you in the future, roads I’ve been preparing for you. Just as you’ve passed this exit exit of shame, so you now are beyond the pain that accompanied it. I make all things new.

When I read this, tears filled my eyes. Not only because of the moving emotions and God’s grace but because I could relate. I’ve experienced similar freedom from guilt and self-condemnation. But God doesn’t call us to wallow in self-pity and punish ourselves. You can’t find these words anywhere in the Bible. Conviction is different from condemnation.

The Holy Spirit will convict us when we are living in sin or have not ever truly repented from past sins. But condemnation is not at all apart of God’s plan for His children He dearly loves. These pity thoughts comes from the enemy. When you confess your sins to God (that He already knows about) and ask for forgiveness, your sins are forgotten instantly. Psalm 32:5 says “‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord’; And You forgave the guilt of my sin.” But you see the problem is that after we are forgiven, we don’t forget it instantly and the enemy loves to remind us.

“First God doesn’t live in the past. Because God- your God- exists outside of time… And second, we only live by grace anyway. So now, instead of being a reason for endless shame, guilt, and regret, our past is a reason for endless worship and free-flowing testimony. And for continual, grateful, heartfelt prayer.” -Priscilla Shirer

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians 5:17

“FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TO THEIR INIQUITIES, AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE.” Hebrews 8:12

“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool.” Isaiah 1:18

If you’re like me, you’ve got a past yourself (who doesn’t). And if you aren’t walking in freedom from your guilt, now is time to change all of that. Now is the time to overcome your shame and walk in freedom. This is no gimmick or words just to make you feel better for the moment. This is real life and God can transform your future and call you out of the pits of despair and isolation. God loves you so much and the moment that you ask for forgiveness, He will remember your sins no more. They are washed as white as snow. You have been called, chosen, redeemed and were called to do great things. It’s time to accept God’s grace because life’s too short to live unhappy.

A Prayer For You

Thank You Lord for completely forgiving me of my past sins and changing me. Reveal to me any bad habits that are holding me back from freedom that You freely give. I want to walk in freedom and now because of Your sacrifice, I can now walk in it. Thank You for Your powerful redeeming grace and mercy. Help me deflect the enemy’s condemning thoughts and replace them with Your grace and truth. In Jesus’ name, amen.