Victory Over Your Past

David Lindell

Oct 20, 2016
11 mins | Christian Living

Someone once said, “Your past is just a story. And once you realize this, it has no power over you.”

Really?

Is that what it boils down to? Simply learn to equate your past with a generic story, distancing yourself from everything that has made you who you are today, and then you will suddenly find that your pesky past no longer troubles you.

The problem is that this idea seems to traffic in extreme intellectual dishonesty about the nature of personal history. Your past is not a story; it’s your story.

Most people have memories that they would rather not have. Things have happened to us, or that have been perpetrated by us that we wish we could erase. We all know people who, because of things they did in the past, live with deep regret, guilt, and shame. No matter how much they work to distance themselves from what happened, those memories seem to resurrect.

Your past is not a story; it’s your story.

This reality can have a profound impact on your life. When your past is allowed to dominate your present, it stifles your ability to pursue God’s plan for your future.

Not only does it plague your future, but when you live a life dominated by past mistakes, it hinders your ability live with a clear conscience, because if you are consumed by your past there are two dangers for your conscience. Either it is continually plagued by your past failings (overactive or weak conscience) or, to not be plagued by your past failings, you begin silencing and ultimately searing your conscience.

Coming to a place of victory over your past is critical to get to a place where you can say with the Apostle Paul, “My conscience is clear.”

So how does somebody get to there?

Charles Haddon Spurgeon wrote, “The most important daily habit we can possess is to remind ourselves of the gospel.”

This is key in getting victory over your past. We must continually remind ourselves of the gospel, because in being reminded of the gospel, we are reminded of life-sustaining-truths.

Conversely, if past failures dominate us, we increasingly see ourselves through the lens of our sin, mistakes, shortcoming and less and less through the lens of who we are in Christ.

When your past is allowed to dominate your present, it stifles your ability to pursue God’s plan for your future.

The Apostle Paul writes, “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.” (Romans 8:33-34, ESV)

How does the past dominate people? The past can become one big accusation, constantly reminding us of our failures. Paul addresses this accusation by asking a question of his own. He asks, “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect?”

Paul’s question helps us to answer some questions of our own. How do you get the victory of a clear conscience and freedom from your past, freedom from condemnation, guilt, shame, and failure?

1. Remind Yourself of Who You Are

Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect?

Question: Do you think you of yourself as God’s elect? Do you think of yourself as someone the God of the universe chose? Do you think of yourself as a saint?

You should. That is the intent of Paul’s question.

This theme is echoed in 1 Peter 2. Notice the contrast in verse 10:

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (1 Peter 2:9–10, ESV)

Don’t miss how Peter highlights our past status (“once you were not”) in comparison our present position in the family God (“now you are God’s people”).

We have to constantly remind ourselves how of the gospel has transformed our identity.

2. Remind Yourself of What God has Done

The Apostle Paul follows this question up with this assertion, “It is God who justifies.” Romans 8:33 (ESV).

In this statement, Paul is also asking other questions: What makes you feel justified before God? What makes you feel worthy? What makes you feel deserving of his grace?

If you want to the bondage of your past broken – remind yourself again and again that you don’t justify yourself.

If it’s anything other than His justifying work for you in Christ, you have no justification.

So, if your past rules you, you’re looking for your justification in you, because if you didn’t have something from you past haunting you, then you would feel fine.

If you want to the bondage of your past broken – remind yourself again and again that you don’t justify yourself. It is God who justifies!

3. Remind Yourself of How Satan Works

Now, the answer to Paul’s question here in verse 34 is… no one! If God has justified you, that’s the end of the story, case closed.

You know this because Paul is going to continue asking questions, but verse 37 is where he says NO.

No legitimate condemnation can stand against anyone of God’s people!

If you are battling your past, it is imperative that you recognize who keeps resurrecting that in your mind, and you have to confront that lie in prayer.

But someone does condemn… who condemns? Who accuses? Who piles up guilt and shame?

“And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers[a] has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.” (Revelation 12:10 ESV)

If Satan is willing to do this before the throne of God (where he has zero chance of success, just image how eager he is to do it in my life and your life where he succeeds all the time.

If you are battling your past, it is imperative that you recognize who keeps resurrecting that in your mind, and you have to confront that lie in prayer.

The victory of a clear conscience and freedom from your past, freedom from condemnation, guilt, shame, and failure will only come through reminding ourselves of these truths in prayer.

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