Past Defines Me

90+ (Nineties Plus) Male

"Real men don't cry or need emotional healing; I just need to tough it out until I die."

LIE: Real men don't need emotional healing. TRUTH: The Lord is near to the brokenhearted—Psalm 34:18. Jesus wept. Vuln...

See Truth Psalm 34:18

10-12 (Pre-Teen) Female

"My family's reputation means people will always judge me before they know me."

LIE: My family's shame is my identity. TRUTH: I don't bear my parents' guilt—I have MY righteousness. (Ezek 18:20)

See Truth Ezekiel 18:20

30-39 (Thirties) Male

"I was abusive in my past relationship and that makes me dangerous forever."

LIE: Past abuse makes me dangerous forever. TRUTH: God gives a new heart and spirit (Ezek 36:26).

See Truth Ezekiel 36:26

19-24 (Young Adult) Female

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

LIE: My past disqualifies me. TRUTH: God does a NEW thing NOW, not after you've earned it back (Isa 43:18-19). Rahab wen...

See Truth Isaiah 43:18-19

40-49 (Forties) Female

"My parents' failures and dysfunction are written into my DNA and destiny."

LIE: Family patterns are my destiny. TRUTH: The son doesn't bear the father's guilt. (Ezek 18:20)

See Truth Ezekiel 18:20

30-39 (Thirties) Female

"People will always see me as who I was, not who I'm becoming."

LIE: People define me by my past. TRUTH: 1 Samuel 16:7—God looks at the heart. His declaration trumps their perception...

See Truth 1 Samuel 16:7

90+ (Nineties Plus) Female

"I had an abortion. I killed my own child. That's unforgivable."

LIE: Abortion is unforgivable. TRUTH: Jesus' blood cleanses from ALL sin—even this. (1 John 1:7)

See Truth 1 John 1:7

70-79 (Seventies) Female

"My years in an abusive marriage mean I'm damaged goods and partially to blame."

LIE: I'm damaged goods. TRUTH: God HEALS the brokenhearted, binds up wounds—freedom proclaimed (Psalm 147:3, Isaiah 61...

See Truth Psalm 147:3

80-89 (Eighties) Male

"I'm too old to hear God's voice clearly—real spiritual intimacy was for my younger years."

LIE: Too old to hear God. TRUTH: His sheep HEAR His voice—hearing Him is covenant, not cognition (John 10:27)

See Truth John 10:27

80-89 (Eighties) Female

"I wasted my life and now it's too late to become who God wanted me to be."

LIE: I wasted my life. TRUTH: God restores the years the locusts ate—your greatest assignment may be NOW. Joel 2:25

See Truth Joel 2:25

13-15 (Early Teen) Male

"I started the rumor that destroyed someone's reputation so I'm a toxic person."

LIE: I destroyed someone so I'm toxic. TRUTH: God RESTORES what was broken—including through you (Joel 2:25). You're a...

See Truth Joel 2:25

10-12 (Pre-Teen) Male

"I got held back a grade so I'm stupid and will always be behind"

LIE: Held back = stupid forever. TRUTH: Man sees grades; God sees your heart and gives wisdom as GIFT. 1 Samuel 16:7

See Truth 1 Samuel 16:7

19-24 (Young Adult) Female

"People will always see me as who I was, not who I'm becoming"

LIE: People see my past. TRUTH: You're a NEW CREATION; old things PASSED AWAY (2 Cor 5:17). Paul went from murderer to a...

See Truth 2 Corinthians 5:17

19-24 (Young Adult) Female

"My trauma means I'll never be whole enough to be fully loved"

LIE: Trauma makes me unlovable. TRUTH: God HEALS the brokenhearted (Ps 147:3). Mephibosheth was crippled and afraid, and...

See Truth Psalm 147:3

25-29 (Late Twenties) Female

"I'll always be the girl who got divorced before thirty."

LIE: Divorce = permanent brand. TRUTH: Woman with 5 husbands became first evangelist (John 4). God restores locust years...

See Truth Joel 2:25

40-49 (Forties) Male

"My mistakes from my twenties and thirties have permanently disqualified me from God's best plan for ..."

LIE: My past mistakes disqualified me. TRUTH: Joel 2:25 - God RESTORES wasted years. Moses started at 80.

See Truth Joel 2:25

40-49 (Forties) Female

"I wasted my best years and opportunities; it's too late for the life I was meant to have."

LIE: I wasted my years. TRUTH: God restores years the locust ate. Now. (Joel 2:25)

See Truth Joel 2:25

40-49 (Forties) Female

"The choices I made in my first marriage ruined my chance at lasting love."

LIE: I ruined my chance at love. TRUTH: God's plans for me are future and hope. (Jer 29:11)

See Truth Jeremiah 29:11

50-59 (Fifties) Female

"I was the other woman once. That sin disqualifies me from being trusted or respected now."

LIE: Adultery disqualifies me. TRUTH: 'Such WERE some of you - now WASHED' (1Cor 6:11). Bathsheba: adulteress to Messian...

See Truth 1 Corinthians 6:11

60-69 (Sixties) Male

"My years of spiritual lukewarmness mean I've forfeited the intimate relationship with God that young..."

LIE: I missed my chance for intimacy. TRUTH: He ALLURES me NOW, restores youth's passion. (Hos 2:14)

See Truth Hosea 2:14-15