Have you ever wished there was a Bible verse or two about letting go of the past? If so, you are lucky because the Bible contains verses on this topic.
The truth is that most people struggle with letting go of the past, which can hold us back from living our best lives.
Bible Verses About Letting Go of The Past
No one likes to linger in the past, but understanding what God’s Word says about it can help you gain a valuable new perspective on your life today. Here are Bible verses about letting go of the past, encouraging and inspiring you to look forward.
Isaiah 26:3 – He will give us peace.
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you
Isaiah 26:3
The world around us can be pretty disturbing sometimes, and challenges enjoy springing up their ugly head, but God tells us in His word to keep our minds on Him. He will give us peace; He will be our peace. Such peace that the world cannot offer. Have no doubts in Him. Let your trust in him be unwavering and forever firm.
Colossians 3:2 – Keep your focus on Christ Jesus.
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Colossians 3:2
A wise preacher once said, “they that keep their eyes on the sun don’t see the shadows.” Keep your focus on Christ Jesus, and all that concerns him. Make no mistakes: He presents and represents eternity, a life beyond the now, and things that will last forever.
The things on this earth will pass away; they will fade. They are temporal.
Proverbs 3:5 – Lean not on your understanding.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5
Many people rely solely on their reasoning, directions, and plans, giving no room for the interference of the Holy Spirit.
They would rather walk based on how they feel and what they’ve heard or seen; even if they do hear guidance from the Holy Spirit, they ignore it.
This is not the prescribed guideline for God’s people. We are encouraged to lean not on our understanding. Instead, we should trust wholeheartedly in the Lord God.
Psalm 62:8 – Let go and have confidence in God.
Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.
Psalm 62:8
Trusting in man entirely is like building a house on sand; there’s no guarantee that it will not crumble and be destroyed. So, we are to make our house on solid rock. God here represents the solid rock. Believe in the Lord; have confidence in Him.
He is not only our Father but our refuge, our safe place. All your hope should be in the Lord, not a man or any promises they might have made. Only the Lord God remains faithful till the end.
Isaiah 43:18 – The past can be a drawback.
“But forget all that–it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.”
Isaiah 43:18
Dwelling on the things of the past can hold you back from moving forward, and to that, God says no. There’s so much He will do with you; nothing from the past necessarily determines His following line of action in your life.
Old things have passed away; behold, all the new stuff! Look only for the future and forward to all the Lord’s plans for you. It can only be bigger and better.
Philippians 3:13-14 – Moving forward creates room for new prospects.
Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13-14
Some people would rather dwell on past glory than forge ahead and look forward to doing new and more glorious things in life. Moving forward creates room for new prospects, helps in growth and gives birth to fresh inspiration in whatever area in a person’s life.
Also, this applies to our walk with God. Whatever milestones or goals we’ve achieved so far, we should always look forward to growth, increasing knowledge and understanding, and doing new things with and for the Lord.
1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you
1 Peter 5:7
There will always be worries, trials, fears, and challenging times in the life of every faithful Christian, but God wants us to know that He is there with us every step of the way. When the burden gets too heavy to bear, He will be there to lift it for us.
The Lord God has sent us His Holy Spirit, who will not only guide us but teach, comfort, advise, correct, and be a friend to us. God loves us dearly, and He has done and will do anything to make sure we know He wants us to do well and be okay.
1 Corinthians 9:24 – Stay on course.
Do you not know that all the runners in a stadium compete, but only one receives the prize? So run to win.
1 Corinthians 9:24
Our Christian life can be likened to a race, with a prize to win at the end of the competition. Though we know that many people are running this race, you have to single yourself out and run to obtain the prize.
Do the things you do and stay on the course, being fully aware that your salvation is personal. It doesn’t necessarily depend on another Christian.
Job 17:9 – Remain strong, courageous, and steadfast.
the righteous shall move onward and forward; those with pure hearts shall become stronger and stronger
Job 17:9
Remain strong, courageous, and steadfast. Be not staggering in the way of the Lord; trust Him; he will direct your path, and all crooked ways will be made straight. But only those who believe and apply this will rise higher and grow stronger.
Eradicate doubts. Do not let it corrupt your faith. Let your heart and mind only accommodate holy, pure, sound, and good thoughts.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7 – Refuse to be anxious about anything.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
Refuse to be anxious about anything. Don’t worry; God has your best interest at heart. Let Him be your comfort pillow, even in your most depressing moments. Talk to Him about anything and everything at any time.
Be frequent and consistent in your communication with Him, and always remain with a grateful heart. He teaches us in his word to give thanks for everything that happens.
It might be challenging at first, but eventually, we become stronger and wiser in the end, and the peace we will experience will be like nothing we’ve ever had before. God is gracious and kind.
John 14:27 – The peace that God offers is beyond human comprehension.
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it fear.
John 14:27
What God can give you, no man can, and this is not exaggerating. God’s peace is beyond human comprehension; it is whole and unconditional.
The world will never be able to provide such. God says, “Amid the trials, tribulations, persecutions. . . I will give you peace. I will be your peace.” He is our calm amid the storm, so do not fear or worry; be bold and courageous instead.
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Bible Verses About Leaving the Past Behind
The Bible commands us to leave the past behind. We should never look back at the things we’ve done. This is a way of keeping our focus on Christ instead of on the things that hold us back from reaching our full potential.
Philippians 3:13-14
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13-14
Some people would rather dwell on past glory than forge ahead and look forward to doing new and more glorious things in life.
Moving forward creates room for new prospects, helps in growth and gives birth to fresh inspiration in whatever area in a person’s life. Also, this applies to our walk with God.
Whatever milestones or goals we’ve achieved so far, we should always look forward to growth, increasing knowledge and understanding, and doing new things with and for the Lord.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17
When a person translates or moves into the Kingdom of light from Darkness, he becomes a new creature. His physical body would not necessarily change, but a transformation occurs on the inside- there’s a renewal of his spirit, man.
God wipes this person’s slate clean and presents them the opportunities for a fresh. This new man must bear in mind the consciousness of his salvation. The devil is also referred to, in the Bible, as the accuser of the brethren.
He will attempt to dig up memories of your past and your life before you met Christ, to use them against you and cause you to fall off the tracks God has placed you on. But resist the devil fiercely, and he will flee. Focus on moving forward. Don’t dwell on the past.
Philippians 4:13-14
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.
Philippians 4:13-14
The affairs of life will not always be easy; our journey as Christians won’t always be smooth, but you should derive your help and strength from God, the maker of Heaven and earth.
Be ready for anything and everything, but remember that The Lord who sent you goes with you, and He will take over -His strength will surpass your shortcomings or weaknesses.
Psalm 103:12-13
As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.
Psalm 103:12-13
The Lord God shows mercy. He is merciful and faithful to those who wholeheartedly worship, revere, and love him. He shows compassion and tenderness towards them.
It doesn’t matter how many evil deeds they had done in their past; the moment they accept Him into their Hearts and His lordship over their lives, He washes them until they’re as white as snow and does not hold any wrong they committed against them.
Genesis 41:51
And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house.
Genesis 41:51
Whoever comes to the Father receives grace, favor, mercies, compassion, and love. His love can erase or cause you to forget your days of hardships. He puts all old things where they belong- in the past.
Philippians 3:12
Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12
Our walk with God is like a journey; during this journey, there will be ups and downs, falling and rising, until we grow into the measure of the full stature of Christ and can stand on our own two feet.
Just like the great apostle Paul said, we may not get it right all the time or achieve perfection like God wants us to, but the key is to keep pushing until we get there.
Don’t let discouragement, fear, or doubts stop you from believing you can be the best and everything God wants you to be.
Isaiah 65:16
That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.
Isaiah 65:16
The Lord says he will do a new thing, and the old has to leave for that to happen. The blessings of the Lord make them rich and cause fruition in the land. Where there existed toils, hardship, dryness, or evil, the Lord will wipe all those away and fill them with newness and His perfection.
Genesis 19:17
And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.
Genesis 19:17
Most times, the only way to move forward is to leave some things behind and not look back. Many people have not made significant progress in their lives, and this is simply because they are stuck in their past.
Move forward; look towards the future and not back to the past. Only then will you experience true peace, fresh inspirations, new possibilities, and the motivation to do better in any area of your life.
Psalm 25:7
Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O Lord.
Psalm 25:7
The Lord God is merciful, and whoever comes before him with an open heart and mind, believing He is God, can plead for mercy. There is a fact: most people have gone through dark and terrible times, and this past can be a haunting factor.
But God is merciful enough to let go of that life and allow you to have a brand new one, free from guilt and shame.
Luke 9:62
And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
Luke 9:62
Once a person receives salvation and accepts the Lordship of Jesus over their life, a handing over of authority of that life to God has occurred. Every Christian must understand that the Kingdom of God and all that concerns Him has become a top priority.
There should be no regrets, looking back on things or the life that was, and there should also be no procrastination or downplay of the work of God.
To those that are victims or propagators of this act, God says in his word that they are not fit for his Kingdom.
Isaiah 43:18-19
Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
Isaiah 43:18-19
The Lord will do a new thing in your life. He will give direction and make a way where it seems impossible to have one. But, for this to happen, you have to put away the things of the past and all its limitations.
Conclusion
Don’t give in to negative feelings about the past. God has a different plan for your life, which is not centered on your history. That doesn’t mean you and your past are forgotten or forever separated; it just means that God’s grace is enough to cover the years of mistakes you have made and bring you to the point where you can see your future.
