Overcoming the Past
Discipleship S.T.E.P.S.: SHAPE
Scripture: 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 (KJV)
Your past no longer has the final authority to define your present or your future. When you are in Christ, your previous mistakes, traumas, and failures are not just covered; they are superseded by a completely new identity as a child of God. The ‘old things’ have passed away, meaning the power of your history to condemn you has been broken by the finished work of the Cross.
Embracing this newness requires a daily choice to stop viewing yourself through the lens of yesterday. Instead see yourself through the eyes of the One who makes all things new. As you grow into the unique SHAPE God has given you focus on the grace that is leading you forward rather than the guilt that seeks to pull you back knowing that your life is now hidden in the redemptive purpose of Christ.
Prompt: How does your new identity in Christ help you overcome your past?
Action Step: SHAPE reminds us that our true identity is found in salvation and His plans, not our past mistakes.
Next Step: Surrender a past regret to God today and thank Him for making you new.