Past Defines Me

10-12 (Pre-Teen) Female

"People have said hurtful things about how I look or act, so that must be who I really am."

LIE: What people say about me must be true. TRUTH: I'm FEARFULLY and WONDERFULLY made. (Ps 139:14)

See Truth Psalm 139:14

40-49 (Forties) Male

"People still see me as the man I was—the addict, the failure, the one who fell apart—and I'll ne..."

LIE: People still see my past. TRUTH: 2 Cor 5:17 - I'm a NEW CREATION. Rahab: prostitute to Messianic line.

See Truth 2 Corinthians 5:17

19-24 (Young Adult) Female

"My promiscuous past means I'll never have a pure marriage"

LIE: My past ruins my marriage. TRUTH: Though sins are scarlet, they're WHITE AS SNOW (Isa 1:18). The woman with 5 husba...

See Truth Isaiah 1:18

60-69 (Sixties) Female

"I wasted my life on a career instead of focusing on family and now it's too late"

LIE: Wasted life on career not family. TRUTH: Ecclesiastes 3:11 - God makes ALL beautiful in time. Lydia's business fund...

See Truth Ecclesiastes 3:11

13-15 (Early Teen) Male

"My parents' divorce proves I come from a broken home and I'll fail at relationships too."

LIE: Divorce in my past means divorce in my future. TRUTH: God's thoughts toward YOU are peace and hope (Jer 29:11). New...

See Truth Jeremiah 29:11

60-69 (Sixties) Female

"My broken family history means I'll never have the godly legacy I wanted"

LIE: Broken family ruins legacy. TRUTH: Ezekiel 18:20 - Kids don't bear parents' guilt. Manasseh—worst king—repented...

See Truth Ezekiel 18:20

60-69 (Sixties) Male

"My physical decline proves I missed God's best, and my body's limitations now define my future usefu..."

LIE: Physical decline limits usefulness. TRUTH: His strength PERFECTED in my weakness. (2 Cor 12:9)

See Truth 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

50-59 (Fifties) Male

"My sexual sin has disqualified me from spiritual authority and God can't use me like the pure men."

LIE: Sexual sin blocks authority. TRUTH: Such WERE some of you—past tense. David murdered and was 'man after God's hea...

See Truth 1 Corinthians 6:11

19-24 (Young Adult) Male

"My failed business proves I'm not cut out to be an entrepreneur"

LIE: Business failure disqualifies you. TRUTH: The righteous fall seven times and rise (Prov 24:16). Failure is educatio...

See Truth Proverbs 24:16

19-24 (Young Adult) Male

"I have a baby with someone I'm not married to and I'm disqualified"

LIE: Baby out of wedlock disqualifies you. TRUTH: Children are a reward from God (Ps 127:3). Complicated birth doesn't c...

See Truth Psalm 127:3

25-29 (Late Twenties) Female

"My past mistakes disqualify me from God's best plan for my life."

LIE: Past mistakes = lesser destiny. TRUTH: Rahab went prostitute to Jesus' lineage instantly (Matt 1:5). Your history d...

See Truth Jeremiah 29:11

10-12 (Pre-Teen) Male

"I stole from a store so I'm a thief and a criminal"

LIE: Stole once = thief forever. TRUTH: Such WERE some of you—you're WASHED, SANCTIFIED, JUSTIFIED now. 1 Corinthians ...

See Truth 1 Corinthians 6:11

25-29 (Late Twenties) Female

"My time in the psychiatric hospital means I'll never be seen as spiritually strong."

LIE: Mental health struggles = weak faith. TRUTH: Elijah suicidal, still mighty prophet (1 Kings 19). God is NEAR the br...

See Truth Psalm 34:18

19-24 (Young Adult) Male

"My criminal record defines who I am and what I can become"

LIE: Your record defines you. TRUTH: You're a new creation; old things passed away (2 Cor 5:17). Heaven sees Christ's re...

See Truth 2 Corinthians 5:17

50-59 (Fifties) Male

"My marriage problems are proof I'm not the spiritual leader I should be and God is disappointed."

LIE: Marriage problems = failed leader. TRUTH: No condemnation. Marriage has 2 people with free will. Hosea's wife left ...

See Truth Romans 8:1

13-15 (Early Teen) Female

"I was sexually abused by a family member. I'm dirty, used, and broken in a way that can never be fix..."

LIE: Abuse made me dirty. TRUTH: God gives BEAUTY for ashes—I'm PURE by Jesus' blood (Isaiah 61:3)

See Truth Isaiah 61:3

10-12 (Pre-Teen) Male

"My older brother is the star so I'll always live in his shadow"

LIE: Living in sibling's shadow forever. TRUTH: God chose forgotten David over 7 'better' brothers—you're CHOSEN for Y...

See Truth Galatians 1:10

60-69 (Sixties) Male

"My reputation in the business community is permanently damaged, and I can't recover credibility or f..."

LIE: My business reputation is ruined. TRUTH: I will NOT be shamed; restoration erases reproach. (Isa 54:4)

See Truth Isaiah 54:4

16-18 (Late Teen) Male

"I grew up without a dad. That broken foundation will always hold me back from being a real man."

LIE: No dad, broken foundation. TRUTH: God takes care of the fatherless—Psalm 27:10. You've got a BETTER Father.

See Truth Psalm 27:10

30-39 (Thirties) Male

"My criminal record will always disqualify me from the life God intended."

LIE: My record disqualifies me. TRUTH: God blots out transgressions and remembers sins no more (Isaiah 43:25).

See Truth Isaiah 43:25