Q: What do I do when thoughts of past sins keep coming back even after I’ve repented?

A. That is a great question, and I have something really practical for you. If you can be overwhelmed by the thoughts of your past, then you can be overwhelmed by different thoughts instead, and these thoughts are the truth of God’s Word and the truth about you.

It says in Psalm 103:12, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Friend, the east and the west will never, ever meet, so when He removes your transgressions, that’s how far apart your sins are from you. You don’t have to worry about it anymore, because you will never meet those sins again!

Now, friend, let me tell you this: If your guilt is habitual — you’re just thinking and thinking about how guilty you are and having shame about the past — then you’re going to have to be aggressive in removing those thoughts, because I can guarantee you that the enemy is aggressive. He wants to keep you in the past, in the guilt, in the shame, in the memories, but you’re brand-new in Christ Jesus. The Bible says that all things are made new in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17), but if you are serious about wanting your mind renewed, you’ve got to put the Word of God in your eyes, in your mind, and in your mouth.

I want you to know that I love you, and I’m not trying to sound hard, but you have to know that you won’t defeat wrong thoughts by just being silent. You defeat wrong thoughts by putting in new ones. The Bible says to cast down those thoughts, resist those thoughts, but replace them with thoughts that are obedient to Christ — God’s thoughts about you (2 Corinthians 10:4-6).

Maybe you’re still struggling to know what God’s thoughts are about you, so I want to give you a passage to start with, and it is Colossians 1:21-22: “And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight.”

That’s who you are. Through His blood, through His flesh, and through His death — not what you did, not how bad you were or how good you were, but through what He did — you are holy, blameless, and above reproach in His sight!

Friend, this is great news! Here is another bit of good news about you: “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved…” (Colossians 3:12). You are the elect of God! While the enemy’s trying to condemn you, Jesus is wanting to love you! He calls you His beloved, and He wants you to just receive it. That’s all you have to do, friend. You’re already His beloved, you’re already in, according to the Bible.

This is how great the Gospel is. Every other religion is focused on trying to get good enough, but Jesus came to us. Friend, you can just put your hand on your heart right now and say, “I am holy. Yes, I’m holy, and I’m blameless, and I’m irreproachable in His sight. I am the elect of God. I am beloved.”

Friend, That’s the truth. If you’re born again, that’s how great your salvation is.