My Past Doesn't Matter.

““Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
2 Corinthians 5:17

THIS IS ASSURANCE THAT MY PAST IS JUST THAT...IT’S TRUE BUT IT DOESN’T MATTER. I AM NOT OBLIGATED TO OWN OR DISCLAIM THE “OLD” THAT HAS GONE AWAY. I DO HAVE AN OBLIGATION, HOWEVER, TO DEAL WITH AND HEAL FROM THE DAMAGE THAT CAME WITH THE “OLD”.”

Been really reflecting on this in light of all that is happening in the world right now. We’ve been in the house and sort of forced to deal with ourselves. I’d like to think that I believe my past doesn’t really matter. That’s what I encourage others with when they come to me with struggles from their past. I am quick to give this scripture and tell them the past doesn’t matter, but truthfully it’s a revelation that I myself have not received deeply in my heart. It’s kind of one of those “I know it in my head, but do not believe in my heart” kind of things. But it wasn’t something I really thought much about at all.

Recently, I was faced with some discomfort about my past, feeling like my if parts of my past was revealed to those closest to me that my relationships would be tarnished. On the flip side of that I felt obligated to share and disclaim my past so that I’m not deceptive. Why though?

The truth is that neither of these two things are true. My past is true, but my past doesn’t matter and if someone hears  about my past and their view of me is shifted, that’s on them. Not me. I am also NOT obligated to disclose or own my past to others to appease them. What I am obligated to do is continue to heal from whatever scars and damage my past brought and if it comes up, it comes up.

I think too often we feel like we must share the ins and outs of who we used to be in order to be fully accepted but the word of God says that we are new and the old has gone away. That’s truth. That’s it. 

What I recognized is that alot of times in sharing my testimony with others it has been for them, and not for me. I haven’t fully received the freedom that comes from the word of my testimony because my testimony has been a route for approval and not healing. This is a form of silencing, honestly. 

I just wanted to share this in hopes that it might encourage someone else. Do not let your testimony be silenced by the need for approval or validation. Heal. 

This is revival.