The following post is an excerpt from Victory In Christ: A 30 day devotional. Coming soon, 9.1.14!

Ben’s Story:

Have you ever made a mistake? A big one perhaps? Ben did. He even had a felony on his record to prove it.

“Ugh, I hate filling out job applications. It’s as if I will never be free from my past mistakes. No one will understand if they find out what I did. And even if they did sympathize, I’ll still be disqualified from getting the job.”

Feeling defeated, Ben walked out with the unfinished job application in hand. As he left through the revolving doors, the tears started streaming down his face. He felt the weight of shame and embarrassment heavy upon his shoulders.

He couldn’t go home to his wife and newborn baby and tell her he chickened out, again. So he sat on the curb right outside of the office building and cried out to God, “Lord, You have made me new. I am not who I once was. Please help me overcome my past so my family can have a future.”

As Ben finished praying, a man from his church walked toward the entrance. The man recognized Ben from his baptism last weekend and they started talking. Ben was surprised to find out that he was also the Hiring Manager. They walked back in the building together and Ben was able to open up about his past, and explain that he is not that person any more.

Twenty minutes later, Ben walked back through the revolving doors. But this time, he felt the opposite of defeat. Because Ben got the job.

Midway to his car, he couldn’t hold it in anymore, “THANK YOU LORD!” He yelled as everyone in the parking lot looked at him like he was crazy. But he didn’t care. Ben’s heart pounded like a bass drum in his chest as he thought, “If God can overcome my past, perhaps there’s no limit to what He can do in my life.”

 

Victory Logo

You know that saying, “The past doesn’t define you.” Well that couldn’t be more true. Especially for followers of Christ who have been washed clean and transformed by the blood of Jesus. We are no longer slaves to our past.

“I am He who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.” -Isaiah 43:25

Because of the sacrifice of Jesus our sins have been erased and God remembers them no more! How freeing is that? 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

The past is dead and gone, and Jesus is making us a new creation now, setting us up for a victorious future.

Sometimes the past comes back to bite us. And sometimes Satan or our minds try to convince us that we are who we were. But every time that happens, we can overcome those thoughts with the truth that this is a new day in the Lord. Yesterday does not own us. God’s mercies are new today (Lamentations 3:22-24). We are no longer defeated, but we are victorious in Christ.

By trusting in Jesus, the past is forgotten; His victory becomes our present and future.

VICTORY IN ACTION

A victory is won when we embrace our story for what it is, and become unafraid to share it. Augustine once said, “There is no saint without a past, and no sinner without a future.” Every one of us has sinned. We’ve all messed up. No exceptions. The miraculous part of our story is not that we can be perfect, because we can’t. The miraculous part is that God can turn ashes into beauty.

So your challenge is to write out the real story of what God has done in your life. What was life like before Jesus? How is life different now that you are His and He is yours?

After you write your story, share it with at least one person. If it is easier, start with someone close to you.

Embrace your story. In so doing, God will set you free from the haunting of your past.

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@loveuncensored By trusting in Christ, the past is forgotten. His victory sets us free from who we once were. #VictoryInChrist

 

In honor of our one year blogiversary and our upcoming book launch on September 1st, we wanted to have a special giveaway to thank all of our readers!

And now for the fun part! Enter in the giveaway below for a chance to win some of our favorite things.

 

A GIVEAWAY of some of our favorite things!!!

One winner will receive ALL of this:

Victory In Christ Devo Giveaway

 

Drew grew up in Bakersfield, CA surrounded by Godly influences. Even though he was raised in a Christian home it wasn't until much later that his faith truly became his own. Through many years of searching, dreaming, and wandering Drew finally laid down his desires to Jesus, ultimately allowing Him to guide and direct his path in music, writing, and ministry. Drew currently resides in Amarillo, TX with his wife Melissa, their son Tristan and their newest blessing Liam coming January 2016. Drew has his B.A. in Christian Studies from California Baptist University. He also has a Certificate in Worship Leadership from Mid-America Christian University and he is currently pursuing his M.A. in Christian Ministry from Liberty University.

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