We use the phrase, “forgive and forget” but we must make sure we complete the forgiving first otherwise we will find we are unable to forget. Remembering past hurts is a sure sign that we have not really forgiven. It’s good news to know that even God forgets – not that He has a bad memory but He chooses to forgive and forget our sins when we confess them and repent. “I even I am He who blots out your transgressions for my sake and I will not remember your sins” (Isaiah 43:25). It’s wonderful that we can come to God with a clean conscience and enjoy our relationship with Him. When we keep seeking forgiveness for past sins we grieve Him because we are not putting our faith in His ability to forgive, cleanse and forget. Sometimes we keep repenting of the same thing because we cannot forgive ourselves. He wants us to repent once and for all, forget and move on. As Paul said in Philippians 2:13 “forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal …” That’s a good verse for this New Year.
