If you’re living under the weight of guilt, of shame, of condemnation, you’re not flourishing. You’re not ruling and reigning. Scripture tells us the righteous can reign in life. You can rule and have dominion, but if you’re living in shame, you’re not ruling, but instead being ruled. Instead of having dominion, you’re being dominated—dominated by things that have no power or value in your life whatsoever. You can live thinking that you owe it to yourself to feel bad about things that have gone on before. And I’m not saying you should ever take your past sins lightly. What I am saying is that there’s real hope in Jesus. Your focus should be on following Christ, not on looking over your shoulder and regretting what you can’t change. Shame is a prison, but the door to your cell is open. Jesus calls you to follow him in the freedom of grace.