87 - Letting Go of the Past

Philippians 3:13-14 AMP

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider that I have made it my own yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the heavenly prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

We all have things from our past—whether before Christ or even after we’ve come to know Him—that we wish we could forget. Even though we have been washed clean through Christ’s sacrifice, it can still be difficult to free our minds from those memories that continue to affect how we feel about ourselves today.

The apostle Paul undoubtedly wrestled with this process of letting go. As a believer, he may have had interactions with the families of those he persecuted—perhaps even with Stephen’s loved ones. We know that Paul, then called Saul, stood by and approved of Stephen’s stoning (Acts 7:58, Acts 8:1). Can you imagine the weight of that memory? How challenging it must have been for Paul to come face to face with those who had lost so much because of his past actions. But Paul didn’t allow his past to define him. He made a conscious choice to forget what lay behind and to press forward toward the goal. 

Paul called himself the worst of sinners because of his persecution of the church (1 Timothy 1:15), and yet he didn’t stay stuck in that place of guilt or regret. He understood that God had given him a new life, a new calling—one that far surpassed his past failures. This calling transcended his human weaknesses and failings, and that same truth applies to us today. 

We are no longer defined by our past, nor should we view ourselves through the lens of human standards. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 reminds us, “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” Our new identity in Christ means that we set our minds on higher things—things above, not on earthly matters (Colossians 3:2). This is how we let go of the past. By focusing on what God says about who we are now, we can break free from the grip of old memories, regrets, and failures.

This process doesn’t happen overnight, but it begins with a shift in perspective. Instead of dwelling on our inadequacies, we press forward, remembering that we have a purpose far greater than anything we’ve left behind. It’s not because we are strong in ourselves, but because of Christ’s power working in and through us. His sacrifice was more than enough to set us free from the past, and we now have the responsibility—and the privilege—of walking in that freedom.

When we keep our hearts and minds fixed on who we are in Christ and the purpose He has for us, we experience continual communion with Him. This is not a one-time event but a daily, ongoing reality. By focusing on what is before us—the new life we have in Him—we are empowered to leave behind what no longer defines us.

If we don’t make this shift, we risk falling into a cycle of dwelling on the past, replaying old mistakes, and viewing ourselves through the lens of our failures. But our true identity comes from who Christ has recreated us to be. He is continually transforming us, aligning us with His truth. As we embrace this truth and live from the place of our new calling, we are set free from the limitations of our former selves.

So let’s release those worldly attitudes and self-judgments. Let's stop comparing ourselves to the world’s standards. What matters most is how God sees us now. He calls us new creations, and He has a plan and a purpose specifically for each of us. Through His power, we have everything we need to live out this new life.

Believe in who you are now—your new purpose and your calling in Christ. Rise above the world’s view of yourself and embrace how God sees you. Let go of who you once were. You are new in Christ—completely new.