It is so easy to remember our mistakes of the past. I still recall an action of mine when I was about ten which hurt someone and then another time when I spoke out of turn and caused distress to other people. I was in my early 20’s and should have known better. Even recently I’ve had to make phone calls to apologize for something I’ve said. When I think about God it’s even worse I’ve sinned against Him all my life. Guilt is a crippling thing, it can mean that the past ruins the present and clouds the future.
It does not have to be like this, God has forgiven us all our sins. In the Lord’s Prayer we ask for and receive forgiveness. ‘Forgive us our debts’ or trespasses as we used to say. Debts makes us think of money and we are all debtors to God. Trespasses sounds like little mistakes, surely ‘sins’ is a better word.
We need to take the words of Paul in Philippians 3;13-14 to heart, ‘Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus.’