Healing Hurts from the Past

True healing means facing the hard truths we may have attempted to bury or fill the void created with other things.

1. See yourself as God sees you.

You are made in his image (Genesis 1:27). You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139: 13,14).

2. Place GRACE beside every destructive thought and negative reminder from the past that threatens you.

Satan loves to remind you of your mistakes and prideful actions of the past. You can keep trying to pay for those yourself, but the reality is, you can never really undo the past. You can only learn from it, and accept God’s grace to move beyond it. It’s God’s grace that erases our past; and it’s God’s grace that will remake your future (Ephesians 2:5-8; Hebrews 4:16; 2 Corinthians 5:17).

Each time you begin to dwell on your mistakes or sins of the past, visually picture the words GRACE beside those thoughts, pushing the negative ones out. Then whisper a thank you cry to God: “Lord, thank you for your grace that brings healing from my past. Thank you for redeeming me, and for seeing me as if I have always obeyed. Thank you that You love me completely and unconditionally.”

3. Meditate on the healing truths in God’s Word daily

God’s Word doesn’t return “void.” In other words, allowing God’s truths and promises to saturate our lives give us the very defense and offensive we need to press on positively to the future God has prepared for us. God will take those implanted seeds of truth to accomplish His purpose for our lives.

4. Forgive as Jesus has forgiven you

If you desire – and expect – God’s grace and forgiveness to remain active in your life, you must learn to not only forgive others, but also yourself. When I temporarily slip back into an “Oh, me!” mentality, I find comfort and grace in reversing to an “Ah, Lord,” declaration. “Ah, Lord, if you have forgiven me so completely, what right do I have not to forgive others – or even myself?” (Forgive, as the Lord forgave you.Colossians 3:13 NIV). His grace enables us to do what we can’t do alone: forgive.Proverbs 24:16 (NLT): The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. Everyone errs. But with God’s grace, we can all start over. Be patient with yourself. Get an “accountability partner” – someone you trust who can check in with you often and help keep you moving in the right direction. You can step in the same hole only so many times. Sooner or later you’ll need to take a new path. Receive God’s infinite, complete forgiveness as a gift; then give Him the gift of belief and trust: that He still has good plans, a hope and a future for you (Jeremiah 29:11).

5. Keep moving forward by anticipating something today and something tomorrow

Find joy in what you do (Nehemiah 4:8), and in doing for others. Putting our past behind is a constant action; but so is pressing on. Consider a reachable goal like “Doing small things with great love”.

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