Have you noticed the unique aspects of all the social media platforms feeding us information daily? Twitter provides condensed one-liners, Instagram comes in the form of catchy pictures, Tik-Tok teaches us trendy dance moves. Then there is Facebook, the highlight reel of strategically chosen snapshots of people living their best life.

I often wonder what these social media platforms would look like if they instead showed the “highlight reel” of our sins and mistakes. I want to suggest that we know what that looks like, at least in our own lives. The reel is in our minds, and Satan is the “feeder,” sending us daily reminders of all the past and present sins in our lives.

Satan is cunning, conniving, and cut-throat. He has repeatedly proven that he is no respecter of persons and looks to destroy anyone who chooses to follow Christ. He will say, do, and remind you of anything that will keep you from remembering that your sins have been paid for IN FULL.

In the book of Hebrews, we see that God promises not to recall our sins. “For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” – Hebrews 8:12

In Revelation, Satan is called the accuser of the brethren. Why? Because the enemy is a liar, he will accuse you day in and day out to instill fear that we aren’t worthy of living as new creations. Satan knows that if he can keep you dwelling on your past mistakes and failures, you will never be effective for the kingdom.

John 10:10: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

Satan’s primary purpose is to keep your eyes OFF of the One who saved you. The enemy knows how dangerous YOU will be to his plans if you walk in your TRUE authority.

Here are my questions for you today: 

• Do you watch your “sin reel” each day?
• What do you do with it?
• Do you use it as a testimony, or do you allow it to bring you fear and shame?

Whatever your answers are, LISTEN UP! You don’t have to give the enemy or your “sin reel” one more minute of your mind or time. Paul revealed to Timothy three reasons why this is true. 

“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of (1) power and (2) love and (3) self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:7

1. POWER – USE IT TO GROW

Yes, it’s ok to look at our sin and use it to measure our growth because we learn from our mistakes, but there should be no condemnation.

1 Corinthians 15:57: “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Romans 8:37: “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

2 Thessalonians 3:3: “But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.”

Remember, you have the power of the Holy Spirit on you, in you, and flowing through you.

2. LOVE – USE IT TO HELP OTHERS

God loves us so much, he sent his ONLY son to die for us. He sacrificed so much for us. We should be willing to share the same love to help others. Don’t be afraid to use your past sin as a warning for others who are on the same dangerous path you once were.

2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

When dealing with sin and shame, people tend to think they are the only ones with shameful pasts or struggles with things like lying, stealing, pornography, adultery, and many others.

1 Peter 5:8-9: “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.”

Don’t let them stand in isolation without sharing you were in bondage to these things too.

Love them enough to show them God’s mercy and work in your life and how through Christ’s love you are now walking in freedom.

3. SELF-CONTROL – USE IT TO WALK IN GOD’S AUTHORITY

God gives us self-control and a sound mind so we don’t have to succumb to the distractions the enemy throws at us. You don’t have to play games with the enemy anymore.

Isaiah 54:17: “No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.”

Combat every “sin reel” the enemy feeds you with scripture, worship, or prayer. More importantly, God gave us the WEAPON OF WARFARE, the WORD.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5: “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.”

Use the Sword of the Spirit to slice and dice the enemy’s tactics.

Zechariah 4:6: “Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.”

I challenge you this week to change your daily scroll from the “sin reel” to the “glory reel” and play the moments of glory God has in your life over and over.

Your past prepares you for your future. Recognize it, grow from it, but don’t live in it.