Learn from people's past mistakes, to avoid repeating a regretful history. It's in the Bible, 1 Corinthians 10:11, TLB. "All these things happened to them as examples—as object lessons to us—to warn us against doing the same things; they were written down so that we could read about them and learn from them in these last days as the world nears its end."

Forget the negative things of the past and go forward. It's in the Bible, Philippians 3:13-14, ESV. "Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

The trials and pains of this lifetime will be only moments in comparison to the glorious eternity we are being prepared for. It's in the Bible, 2 Corinthians 4:17, NKJV. "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory"

History helps to strengthen our beliefs. It's in the Bible, Luke 1:1-4, NIV.  "Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught."

No matter what sins you have committed in the past - if you have repented and ask Christ for forgiveness, we can believe it is true. Romans 3:24-25, KJV. "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God"

No matter what our past, Christ can make us new again. It's in the Bible, 2 Corinthians 5:17, NKJV. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." It's in the Bible, Isaiah 42:9, NKJV. "Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I declare; Before they spring forth I tell you of them.”

We can see how God has worked in the past to help us understand how He works with us today. It's in the Bible, Hebrews 1:1, NKJV. "God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;"

Never forget how God has been there for you in the past and pass it on to generations afterward to teach them, they can trust God. It's in the Bible, Deuteronomy 4:9, NKJV. "Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren"

No matter the past, today we have the chance to redeem the time. It's in the Bible, Ephesians 5:15,16 "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil"

You can believe in God's forgiveness of our past mistakes. It's in the Bible, Micah 7:19, NKJV. "He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea"

For more information see:

• Change
• Forgiveness
• New Life