
I am so grateful to God that I do not have to live my life looking over my shoulder at my past sins. When I do that I feel stuck, unable to free myself to move forward toward a future of healing and reconciliation. Some of the hardest forgiveness is the ability to forgive one's self. God shows us many examples of forgiveness in the bible and expects and actually demands for us to forgive one other. Mat 6:14-15 (NIV) "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But, if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."
Recall the story of Joseph whose jealous brothers sold him into slavery and Joseph later forgave them or David who forgave King Saul after Saul tried to kill him. David later went out of his way to take care of Saul's offspring.
God wants us to repent and forgive ourselves so he can continue working on us as he prepares us for our destiny, the destiny he has chosen just for us.
Jeremiah 29:11 says, For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.
We can all have the future God has planned for us if we choose to go after it—if we choose to grow and develop a deep relationship with God.
“You have put all my sins behind your back.” Out of sight. God no longer “sees” me in light of my sins. He sees Jesus righteousness for me.” Isaiah 38:17
So I hope anyone looking over their shoulder will turn around and face forward before they trip again, unnecessarily on sin that has already been forgiven.