Sometimes memories of your past mistakes return to haunt you. 

You want to forget those awful things but you cannot seem to put them behind you.

Satan enjoys resurrecting your past mistakes to instill in you a sense of worthlessness.

Read: Your past mistakes are no more.

Paul’s thorn in his flesh was a messenger of Satan who constantly tormented him by reminding him of his past wicked deeds. He pleaded with God to remove this evil thorn but the Lord did not.

Instead, He said to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

The thorn was a reminder of Paul’s weakness to keep him humble and solely dependent on the grace of God.

You cannot prevent Satan from attacking you with your past mistakes but when he does you do not have to feel ashamed or discouraged because the Lord has removed the reproach of your past.

Many years ago I went through a traumatic separation. The devil used that low point in my life to attack me with loneliness, fear, depression, panic attack, brokenness, anger, bitterness, and resentment.

I was broken and defeated. One day I cried out to God for mercy and He said to me “I will remove the reproach of your past.”

The Lord removed the shame and the stigma that was attached to my past.

So whenever the enemy approached me with his accusations, I respond with the Word from the Lord – “God has removed the reproach of my past.”

I was no longer ashamed of my past. I was no longer weak with despair because I gained strength knowing that God has forgiven all my sins and He remembers them no more.

The testimony of Hannah carries a similar trend(1 Samuel 1-2). Hannah was barren because God closed her womb and she could not have children.

As a result, her adversary ridiculed her night and day. She became unhappy and depressed, and not even the love of a good husband could console her.

Finally, while attending the sacrificial worship in Shiloh, Hannah reached her breaking point.

Desperately she lay on the floor before the altar of God and pleaded, “Oh Lord, if you will just remove the reproach of my past. If you would just remove my shame and let me have a son I will give him back to you.”

Hannah desperately wanted a child to remove the disgrace of barrenness that society had placed on her.

She was willing to give up the joy of complete motherhood and the blessing of raising her child. All she wanted was for God to open her womb and remove her reproach.

God saw the sincerity of her heart and honored her request.

In return, Hannah honored her promise to God and gave up her only son to Him.

What a sacrifice!

This story reminds me of the ultimate sacrifice that God made for us.

He gave up His only begotten Son to die on a horrific cross that was filled with all our reproaches, diseases, and iniquities.

Jesus received the venoms of the serpent.

The Son of God was completely marred and disfigured with the sins of humanity that the Father in heaven could not look upon His beloved Son.

Deliver me from all my transgressions; Do not make me the reproach of the foolish. (Psalms 39:8)

It cost Jesus His ALL, but He did it because of LOVE.

It cost Hannah her ALL, but she gave up her only son because of LOVE. That is amazing!

Love is the motivating force that brought blessings to humanity and praises to God.

The love of God covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8).

Therefore, You do not have to accept the lies of the enemy because the Lord has removed the reproach of your past.

“Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore. (Isaiah 54:4)