But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ. – Philippians 3:7-8
After Paul considered everything that he accomplished in his life, he considered it all garbage when he compared it to the greatness of knowing Christ. If he felt this way about all the good that he did, for sure he would consider the bad things as garbage as well. (Actually, I would say that he actually already let it go because he didn’t even mention the bad things of his past.) So if all the good things are considered garbage compared to knowing Christ, then everything else isn’t worth holding on to. Let it go and continue to hold onto Christ.
Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin. - Psalms 32:5
To confess our sin is to agree with God, acknowledge that he is right in declaring it as sinful and that we were wrong to desire it. If you are stuck in the past, committing the same sins over and over again, these three things need to be settled in our hearts to move forward from our past sins.
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. – Romans 6:4
Paul was speaking about baptism here. He was highlighting that once we are baptised, we are then raised to new life in Jesus and our past is washed away, Buried. You are changed and made new. The things you did in your past no longer apply to you so you don’t need to dwell on them.
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. – Galatians 2:20
Our identity is in Christ once we give him our lives. Because our sins died with Christ, we are no longer condemned. We are one with Christ and dead to our old lives. All the regret, pain, mistakes are under the blood of Jesus. We are free from those things. The guilt has been removed from us and we need to accept that in our hearts emotionally to be truly free.
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 3:12-14
We have all done things that we are ashamed of but because our hope is in Christ, we can let go of the past guilt and look forward to what God will help us become. Don’t dwell in your past. Instead, grow in your knowledge of God by concentrating on your relationship with Him. You are forgiven. Now continue to move forward in that truth.
Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. – Isaiah 43:18-19
The season can change at any time when God is with you. In order for you to go into the new season that God wants to take you into, you have to let go of the past. It doesn’t matter the situation that you are in, God can make any situation flourishing and fruitful.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! – 2 Corinthians 5:17
We are made new from the inside out. The Holy Spirit gives us new life. We are recreated and living in union as new creations with Christ Jesus.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. – 1 John 1:9
You are forgiven for your sins. You can confess your sins to God and free your conscience to enjoy a guilt free relationship with Him. His words are true and you can let go of all past mistakes and failures. Your past is wiped clean once you confess your sins to God.