Forgetting those things which are behind

We are all familiar with this passage found here in Philippians 3:13-14 which says, "Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." 
Some memories cling to us like shadows such as our failures, our regrets, our missed opportunities. We replay them over and over, wondering what we could have done differently. 
But the truth is that we can’t change the past. Even so, we don’t have to let it shape our present and our future. 
Paul had a past too. Before becoming an apostle, he persecuted the church. If anyone had reasons to carry guilt, it was him. But instead of being paralyzed by his past, Paul focused forward not because he was perfect but because he was forgiven. The Lord’s amazing grace gives us permission to let go. 
Leaving the past behind isn’t about denial. It’s about refusing to let it define you. God is doing something new, and looking backward too long can make us miss what’s right in front of us. 
So if you're carrying baggage from last year or from the past decade or more, lay it down. God is not finished with you yet. In fact, he’s just getting started. May this be our prayer in this New Year
Jesus, help me to let go of what I cannot change. Free me from shame and regret, and fix my eyes on what lies ahead in life with you.