Sometimes that’s good, regret and remorse can be a powerful tool if used properly.

Sometimes its not, sometimes it can hold you back from the people you love, opportunities and positive influence.

For the longest time, not until a few months ago really, I held onto so much…that it kept me from moving on with life, from developing healthy relationships and from committing to things and people I love or could have loved. I was over things but I wasn’t over the sin and with that I didn’t forgive myself for my actions.

I still kept part of it with me, part of that sin and those memories so close.

It was never the past relationship that I had to get over; I had admittedly checked out awhile before I had left. It was the one right after that (what it meant, not what it was), and the reasons for leaving the first stuck with me.

“I finally found that life goes on without you, and my world still turns when you’re not around.”

But it no longer haunts me…

Past actions, sin, continuing it..no longer haunt me.

Just recently, on January 24th, I rid myself of everything that was remaining from the past. Its gone, all of it, not a single part of it physically remains, even the files. I’ve reclaimed that day.

I’ve been over it for awhile, but every now and then its something I choose to revisit, to look over, to examine (the sin). We’re forgiven for our sins when we ask, but sometimes that isn’t enough to us.

I can say that my viewpoint on it has forever changed; I have overcome our past.

“One factor that motivates me to forgive is that as a Christian I am commanded to…But beyond that, I can identify three pragmatic reasons. [you know I like practical applications!!]  First, forgiveness halts the cycle of blame and pain, breaking the chain of ungrace.  Without it we remain bound to the people we can’t forgive, held in their vise grip.

Second, forgiveness loosens the stranglehold of guilt in the perpetrator.
It allows the possibility of transformation in the guilty party, even if a just punishment is still required.

And third, forgiveness creates a remarkable linkage, placing the forgiver on the same side as the party who did the wrong.  We are not as different from the wrongdoer as we would like to think, for we too must ask our Heavenly Father, “Forgive us our debts”

Matt. 6:12… He who cannot forgive others burns the bridge over which he himself must pass.“

Thanks KT/Mom, hope this blesses you.