When I learned to drive a car, my driving instructor taught me to scan my rear view mirrors periodically as I drove down the road.  He wanted to make sure I was aware of any other vehicle that might be approaching so I could avoid pulling out in front of it and getting into an accident.  However, he also advised me to keep my eyes on the road before me.  If my attention were to stay on what was behind me for too long, I would not see what was right in front of me and I would crash.

It is the same in our response to God's forgiveness of our sins.  God promises that when we come to Him with a humble and contrite heart He will forgive us. He will cleanse us and give us a new and fresh beginning. But do we ever have sins in our past that we refuse to release?  Maybe we may think they are too big or too painful to be fully forgiven.  We somehow think that even though our Lord has pardoned us, we need to continually punish ourselves by keeping our eyes on our past.  But, just as when we operate a car, if we keep our focus on the rear view mirror for too long we won't be able to see the beauty that the Lord is offering right in front of us.


“Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin” (Romans 4:7-8).

One of the enemy's biggest tricks is to try to keep us chained to our past.  Nothing would give him more satisfaction than to have us stay prisoners to our sins even though the Lord has unlocked our cell and opened the door.  When we remain in our prisons we allow the enemy to fill our mind with thoughts of self-loathing, despair, and hopelessness and that is not what our Savior wants for us.  Through His forgiveness, the Lord is giving us the joy of living our lives in freedom.  God wants us to experience His love and peace but we can't do that when we refuse to let go of what He has already forgiven.  When we believe the lies of the enemy, we are in a way, saying that what Christ did on the cross was in vain. 

"So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death" (Romans 8:1-2).

I'm not saying we should never look back, but when we do, we need to do it with thankfulness to God as we remember how far He has brought us, and with hope as we remember how much love He showed us through the sacrifice He made to set us free.  Let's remember that because of His forgiveness, when we glance back, we need only see hope in the rear view mirror.

Living for Him,





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25 Comments

  1. Thanks for hosting Joan - have a blessed week!

    Create With Joy
    http://create-with-joy.com

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  2. There was a season in my life, when I was a baby in Christ, that the devil took great joy in buffeting me with his lies, condemning me and making me believe that not all my sins were forgiven. I fought him by immersing myself in the Word, by steeping my heart, mind and lips with the words of life. and eventually, the enemy left.

    This is a beautiful post, Joan. 

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  3. friskychileJune 18, 2012

    What a great post Joan! Forgiveness doesn't always come easy for me, but God wants us to keep asking and keep seeking ; thankfully He doesn't count the times! What a wonderful gift! :)Blessings and hugs friend,Denise

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  4. Denise OldhamJune 18, 2012

    Wonderful advice.

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  5. I love that: hope in the rearview mirror! A great picture and catchy phrase that should, and I hope will, stick easily in my mind! Thanks for this!

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  6. What a great post with an important reminder to us...it is harder to forgive ourselves than others I think!

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  7. What a great analogy, Joan! Praise God that He has forgiven and forgotten our sins, and separated us from them as far as the east is from the west. But He can't fully bless us unless we release those sins at the foot of the cross.
    God bless,
    Laurie

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  8. Hazel MoonJune 18, 2012

    Thank you for this reminder to keep our eyes on the road ahead, and although we may glimpse at the past, dwelling on it is not good.  After all, as for as God is concerned, our past is gone and under the blood.

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  9. Robert MoonJune 18, 2012

    Looking back to see if you was looking back at me - was a silly song of long ago.  How often we fail to see all that is surrounding us and to praise God for His blessings that are right there in front of our face..

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  10. Nancy KehrJune 18, 2012

    Thank you for hosting this lovely site.  I try to keep my eyes on Jesus for He is my all in all.

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  11. It is a joy to host this blog link up!  Thank you for stopping by and linking your blog as well!  Blessings!

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  12. Thank you, Rina!  You did the perfect thing to combat the lies of the enemy...By immersing yourself in the Word -- the Sword of the Spirit -- the enemy didn't have a chance!

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  13. It is, indeed a wonderful gift that the Lord invites us to come to Him.  He opens His arms and welcomes us each time when we come with a sincere heart!  Blessings, Joan

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  14. Thanks, Tracy!  I'm so thankful God has set me free!

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  15. Thanks, Denise!  So often it is difficult to forgive ourselves, but when we remember what the Lord has done for us, it is great encouragement to leave the past in the past and look forward to a glorious future with Him!

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  16. It's funny...but the post "came to me" after I saw the picture.  I just ran across it online one day and realized that it was a special word to me.  Blessings to you!

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  17. I agree with you on that!  We do tend to be pretty hard on ourselves when it comes to our past sins.  Thank goodness that our God will forgive us when we come to Him with a sincere heart.  And, with His help, we can also learn to forgive ourselves.  

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  18. Yes...that is true!  It is only by releasing our sins to Him that we find true freedom in His forgiveness!

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  19. Yes...and we have a glorious future awaiting us!  Blessings, Hazel.

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  20. So true.  Right now, especially has I travel a challenging road in my family (with the illness of my father), it is so important to continue to look at my blessings.  The Lord has been and is so good to me!  I need to remember to focus on Him!

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  21. That's the best place to look!  Blessings!

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  22. Great analogy with the rearview mirror. Focusing on our past sins can certainly keep us paralyzed. As Paul said, "forgetting what lies behind...pressing on toward the mark."

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  23. Just wanted to say "thank you" for allowing me to join in.  HOPE the rest of your week is great!

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  24. I'm so glad you came by!  Have a blessed (hope-filled) day!

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  25. "Paralyzed" is a perfect word for when we allow our past, already forgiven sins, to keep us caged.  I'm pressing on toward the mark, too!

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