Walk in Freedom

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. Romans 8:1

One of the things that keep us back most as human beings is condemnation. We are afraid of being ostracized, criticized and reminded of our shortcomings by those who've known us and know about our past. But condemnation does not only come from outside influences. The worse type of condemnation can come from within. Most of us have hopes and dreams for ourselves. Most of us have set standards for ourselves. Letting our own selves down is one of the hardest issues to live with. When we don't live up to our own expectations, we tend to walk around, sometimes for the rest of our lives, beating ourselves up for our past mistakes.  Another person will forgive you a lot sooner than you can forgive yourself. 

A lot of Christians come to Christ, are forgiven and go on to live Godly lives, yet they often have that one thing hidden in the dark room of their past that they keep beating themselves over. I can speak about it, because I have done it to myself and sometimes, I'm still doing it to myself even though now, I know better. 

Condemning yourself over and over for past mistakes can keep you from going forward. It cripples you and holds you back. Because you are holding onto to your past and beating yourself up, you can never really be free. When we choose redemption, the Spirit of God gave us freedom from the power of sin that leads to death. That means we have freedom to live without the guilt that can so often weigh us down. To keep beating yourself up over past mistakes means that we are robbing yourself of the freedom of redemption. When Christ forgave you, your mistakes were erased. He saw that you were genuine about wanting change so he freed you so that you could actually achieve that change.

Don't go through life walking around with the heavy bags of your past on your shoulders when God has already taken them and thrown them away. Don't go digging through the garbage for what God has already discarded. Forgive yourself, thrown down the bags and walk with your head held high. You'll realize that after you have forgiven yourself, barely anybody else is holding your past in front your face. They have seen the genuine change in you and save for the few pig-headed folks who will always want to flash your past before you, most people are rooting for you to succeed. 

Walk in the liberty that God has given you and remind the few that God has set you free from your past mistakes. Let your past be a teacher, a guide that tells you where you shouldn't go, but never let it overcome you and weigh you down. 

I read a quote somewhere that rang true for me. I'm not sure who the author is, but it sure isn't me. 

Experience is something you only get until just after you needed it. 

Now that you have been blessed with an experience,  make it worth the trouble. Don't go back there and don't let what happened back there keep you back!


Joana James - Author of From Redemption to Maturity,   Nightmare at Emerald High & Alana and Alyssa's Secret