My past does not define me

I am a firm believer that no matter what has happened to us in our past, that we can overcome any damage done with the healing power of Jesus. Once we put our trust in Jesus and Him alone, our new identity is now in Jesus. Not in our past, not in the horrible things that were done to us or even what we may have done. 

So often we can blame our parents or our upbringing for the bad decisions we have or are making. But there comes a point in our lives, especially as a believer in Jesus that we have to start taking responsibility for our own decisions. 

You see, 2 Corinthians tells us, ‘This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun.’ 

The moment we ask Jesus into our life, we are washed clean of our sins and our new family life is in the family of Christ. 

I come from a long line of Franklins and I am proud of that name. But my true identity is that I am a follower of Jesus and am a part of the family of God. To me this means that I can move forward in my new identity and put behind me all the junk, even the junk that I had no choice in. 

Alcoholism runs in my family. I saw and experienced things as a kid that no kid should ever have to. I know these things but they don’t define me. I believe because of the power of Jesus in me that I have been able to overcome and live for my future, not in my past. 

Is this easy? No. Are there still things that haunt me and come to memory at times? Yes. But I have chosen to rise above the past and live for a new day. I use my past to make me a better person to bless others and not be the victim because I am a victor! 

‘No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.’ Philippians 3:13