Some of us walk through life carrying things God already told us to put down.
Regrets, failures, old habits, past hurts—these can weigh us down like spiritual baggage, keeping us from fully walking in the freedom Christ already paid for.
But the Bible is full of reminders that our past doesn’t define us.
In fact, God has a habit of rewriting stories, redeeming brokenness, and making all things new.
His Word tells us that once we are in Christ, we are a new creation.
The former things no longer hold power over us unless we give them permission to.
The enemy thrives on reminding you of who you used to be—but God is always pointing toward who you’re becoming.
The cross was not just for your salvation; it was for your transformation.
When we surrender our past to God, we make room for His promises, His healing, and His new beginnings.
These 32 scriptures will help you let go of yesterday and embrace the hope and restoration God has for today and every day forward.
Bible Verses About Leaving the Past In The Past
1. 2 Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
2. Isaiah 43:18-19
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!”
3. Philippians 3:13-14
“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead… I press on toward the goal.”
4. Romans 8:1
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
5. Lamentations 3:22-23
“His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning.”
6. Psalm 103:12
“As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”
7. John 8:36
“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
8. Micah 7:19
“You will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.”
9. Hebrews 8:12
“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”
10. Revelation 21:5
“He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!'”
11. Galatians 2:20
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.”
12. Colossians 3:9-10
“You have taken off your old self… and have put on the new self.”
13. Ezekiel 36:26
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you.”
14. Psalm 40:2-3
“He lifted me out of the slimy pit… He put a new song in my mouth.”
15. Romans 6:4
“We were therefore buried with him… in order that we too may live a new life.”
16. Isaiah 1:18
“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.”
17. Job 17:9
“The righteous keep moving forward, and those with clean hands become stronger and stronger.”
18. Proverbs 4:25-27
“Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.”
19. Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
20. 1 John 1:9
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us… and purify us.”
21. Isaiah 61:3
“To bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes.”
22. Romans 12:2
“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
23. James 4:7-8
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil… Come near to God and he will come near to you.”
24. Genesis 19:26
“But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.”
25. Luke 9:62
“No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
26. Ecclesiastes 7:10
“Do not say, ‘Why were the old days better than these?’ For it is not wise to ask such questions.”
27. Hebrews 12:1-2
“Let us throw off everything that hinders… and run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
28. Ephesians 4:22-24
“Put off your old self… and put on the new self, created to be like God.”
29. Psalm 34:5
“Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.”
30. Zephaniah 3:17
“He will take great delight in you… He will rejoice over you with singing.”
31. Acts 3:19
“Repent… that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.”
32. 1 Peter 5:7
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
Our Thoughts On What The Bible Says About Leaving the Past in the Past
God does not consult your past to determine your future.
Throughout Scripture, we see that when we come to Christ, our old self is buried and we are raised into something entirely new.
That doesn’t mean we forget the past—it means we’re no longer bound by it.
We can learn from it, grow beyond it, and move forward because our identity is no longer rooted in what was, but in who Christ is.
There is grace for the regrets, healing for the wounds, and purpose beyond the pain.
So if you’re still holding on to something God already dealt with, it’s time to let go.
Not because it didn’t matter, but because God already made a way for you to move beyond it.
You are free. Walk in that.
Say This Prayer
Lord, I thank You that my past no longer defines me.
I surrender every regret, every failure, and every hurt into Your hands.
Help me to see myself the way You see me—redeemed, restored, and made new.
Teach me to fix my eyes on what’s ahead, not what’s behind.
Fill me with courage to walk in Your freedom, peace to let go, and faith to believe that the best is still yet to come. In Jesus’ name, Amen.