Why Your Past Still Defines You

There's a moment from your past you keep replaying, and every time you do, it tells you the same thing about who you are. In The Lion King, Simba believes he killed his father, and that shame chases him out of his home, his calling, and his future. And even years later, when he has this new group of friends, he's still running from his past. He's not a lion in exile because of what he did.

He's in exile because of what he believes about himself. And most of us have been somewhere similar. Paul actually wrote to the Philippians because they too were living in shame, and he says this to encourage them in Philippians 3. It says, 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.

And they're caring about this moment of failure, a sin, maybe it was a season that they were ashamed of, and they've quietly accepted it as their identity instead of their history. And shame tells you the worst thing you've ever did is the truest thing about you. And God tells you the opposite.

He calls you forward into the life you've been hiding from. So today, say this out loud. That happened, but that's not who I am. And then take that one step forward into the future God has for you.

Because shame wants you hiding in exile. but God, he's calling you home. I'd love to pray for you. God, thank you so much for your love for us.

Thank you so much that you don't give up on us and that you are consistently pursuing us, that you're wrapping your arms of love around us. God, let that fill us up and remind us

that we are not our past and that you call us into so much more. We love you. We pray this all in Jesus' name.

Amen. you