Mistakes of the Past

By Yvonne Ortega
Guest Writer

CBN.com – “I hate myself,” Barbie said as she wiped tears from her eyes. “I hate myself for being in prison when my mother died.”

“Your mother was a godly woman,” I said. “She’s at home in heaven and forgave you long ago.”

“But I haven’t forgiven myself,” she moaned. “I’m full of guilt and shame.”

Pete suffers from the pain of divorce. He relives all the things he said and did that destroyed the relationship. As a single parent, he senses the pain his children endure going from one parent’s home to the other, especially over the holidays.

Judy struggles with health problems because of poor eating habits and a lack of exercise. Harry is a recovering alcoholic but his drinking days left him with hepatitis C. Paul and Sherry take medication for genital herpes, a reminder of their promiscuous past.

You might be able to relate to Barbie, Pete, Judy, Harry, Paul, or Sherry.

God still loves them all, and He loves you too. No matter what you’ve done, God loves you. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for your sins. Tell God how sorry you are for your past wrongs. The last words of Jesus before his death were, “It is finished” see John 19:30. He didn’t say, “It is finished except for criminals, divorced people, those who damage their health, alcoholics, and a list of others too numerous to mention.” He simply said, “It is finished.”

Psalm 103: 10-13 (NIV) says:“He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; As far as the east is from the west, So far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.”

Dear friend, God longs to give you “hope and a future” seeJeremiah 29:11. You’ve attempted to control your life and it hasn’t worked. You can’t undo the past, but you can change the present and future with the Lord’s help. Surrender to God. Give Him a chance to mend your broken heart and transform your life into something beautiful. Nothing you’ve said or done will shock God or repulse Him. He waits to forgive you. Apologize to those you’ve hurt and make amends to the best of your ability. The promises of Psalm 103:10-13 and Jeremiah 29:11 can apply to your life now. Copy these verses and place them on your bathroom mirror, your kitchen cupboard, or wherever you’ll see them often. Make the words your personal prayer.

God is in the miracle business. He performed miracles in the past, and He still does. Hebrews 13:8 (NIV) says: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Now is the time to kneel or stand before the Lord, stretch your hands toward heaven, and accept the overflow of love, forgiveness, and peace that only He can give.

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