What to do when the enemy keeps trying to remind you of your past?

[GodsChilde]

As of recent I've build up my faith for the lord like crazy ( I can't remember the last time I would even read scripture and watch sermons for hours and hours) .. But one thing I did notice is that the enemy keeps trying to remind me of my past, especially my ex gf and past friends who I no longer talk to or have outgrown.. I had forgotten about her for quite sometime now but he keeps bringing her into my thoughts throughout the day and even in some vivid dreams, and it sometimes brings a sadness to my heart. I've moved on long ago so idk why these thoughts of her are suddenly popping into my head again now that my faith is so strong in the lord. It's as if the enemy is trying to play mind games with me.. has anyone ever experienced the enemy playing tricks with you like this to distract you from praise? And how did you overcome these unwanted thoughts?

 

[JohnB445]

I've put my trust in the Lord, prayed, and read scripture. It quickly began to clear my mind.
But when I lost grip and started to trust in myself and not slow down that's when things took turns for the worst.

 

[andreha]

As of recent I've build up my faith for the lord like crazy ( I can't remember the last time I would even read scripture and watch sermons for hours and hours) .. But one thing I did notice is that the enemy keeps trying to remind me of my past, especially my ex gf and past friends who I no longer talk to or have outgrown.. I had forgotten about her for quite sometime now but he keeps bringing her into my thoughts throughout the day and even in some vivid dreams, and it sometimes brings a sadness to my heart. I've moved on long ago so idk why these thoughts of her are suddenly popping into my head again now that my faith is so strong in the lord. It's as if the enemy is trying to play mind games with me.. has anyone ever experienced the enemy playing tricks with you like this to distract you from praise? And how did you overcome these unwanted thoughts?

Hey bro

^^^That there - it's been the story of my life, up until a decade ago or so. All those negative thoughts/anything reminding you of the past in a negative way comes from down under. The only solution, is to verbally ask the Holy Spirit to protect your mind from this noise. Verbally declare your submission, from your heart, to Him, His love, guidance and power. Keep on doing that. Every day. Until the noise fades into nothing. That is the one thing that worked for me, and I know it will work for you. Just ask Him directly, verbally, from the heart.

Edit:
Here's a testimony on just that. Were it not for submission to the Spirit, I would have lost my job.

 

[Dave L]

I am remorsing continually over my former life of sin. But keep in mind that God has emptied them of all their content. He sees them white as snow in Christ.

 

[timf]

Unwanted thoughts can arise internally or externally. In either case developing a mental reflex for whenever they arise can be useful.

For example, feelings of shame at past actions can be useful if they help us make corrections when needed, bring repentance, and motivate us to resist temptations. However, when their utility is over, they can become a hindrance.

If the memories come back in a less helpful way, a reflex response can be constructed. This reflex may consist of an acknowledgement of the past sin, the acknowledgement that Christ paid for that sin, and the gratitude we should have for that payment. This can be a way for us to bring every thought captive to Christ.

 

[Landon Caeli]

As of recent I've build up my faith for the lord like crazy ( I can't remember the last time I would even read scripture and watch sermons for hours and hours) .. But one thing I did notice is that the enemy keeps trying to remind me of my past, especially my ex gf and past friends who I no longer talk to or have outgrown.. I had forgotten about her for quite sometime now but he keeps bringing her into my thoughts throughout the day and even in some vivid dreams, and it sometimes brings a sadness to my heart. I've moved on long ago so idk why these thoughts of her are suddenly popping into my head again now that my faith is so strong in the lord. It's as if the enemy is trying to play mind games with me.. has anyone ever experienced the enemy playing tricks with you like this to distract you from praise? And how did you overcome these unwanted thoughts?

Could it be, that you're beginning to grow bored..?

 

[Landon Caeli]

Personally, I can only go so long praying, reading scripture, etc., until I grow bored with it... At that point, it is time to go do something for someone else. Some sort of sacrifice needs to be made in the form of physical work.

I tried VolunteerMatch - Where Volunteering Begins, last week but unfortunately didn't get any responses back.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

I sometimes dream about a beautiful, but very vain, woman I went with when I was young. My relationship with her was great but tortured as well. When I have these dreams I'm not myself for most of the next day, she affected me so much. However I don't consider such dreams sinful in the least, and I haven't a clue why I even have them. Perhaps hidden in my subconscious remains an if only...

 

[Sophrosyne]

We learn from our past not to repeat the same mistakes but we cannot live in the past especially when we were not following God the enemy wants us to devolve into the person we were without Christ in our lives and be defeated in that life yet again.
Our past sins are meaningless to God as to who we are in him, as he has forgiven us and forgets the sins as far as the east is from the west the Bible says.

If the enemy want to remind you of your past, remind him of his future.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

Personally, I can only go so long praying, reading scripture, etc., until I grow bored with it... At that point, it is time to go do something for someone else. Some sort of sacrifice needs to be made in the form of physical work.

I tried VolunteerMatch - Where Volunteering Begins, last week but unfortunately didn't get any responses back.

Ditto's on that, bro.

I have embarked on a community service project by myself. My city has abandoned some of our waterways, allowing the weeds to take over. I'm cleaning up a section of a great fishing creek by removing the overgrowth of weeds with an aquatic weed rake of my own design. I have finished a stretch of about 100 feet and fished it the next day. I caught many bluegills including the largest one I have ever caught. Great fun, success, and gratification!

 

[Landon Caeli]

Ditto's on that, bro.

I have embarked on a community service project by myself. My city has abandoned some of our waterways, allowing the weeds to take over. I'm cleaning up a section of a great fishing creek by removing the overgrowth of weeds with an aquatic weed rake of my own design. I have finished a stretch of about 100 feet and fished it the next day. I caught many bluegills including the largest one I have ever caught. Success and gratification!

That's awesome!

 

[Aussie Pete]

As of recent I've build up my faith for the lord like crazy ( I can't remember the last time I would even read scripture and watch sermons for hours and hours) .. But one thing I did notice is that the enemy keeps trying to remind me of my past, especially my ex gf and past friends who I no longer talk to or have outgrown.. I had forgotten about her for quite sometime now but he keeps bringing her into my thoughts throughout the day and even in some vivid dreams, and it sometimes brings a sadness to my heart. I've moved on long ago so idk why these thoughts of her are suddenly popping into my head again now that my faith is so strong in the lord. It's as if the enemy is trying to play mind games with me.. has anyone ever experienced the enemy playing tricks with you like this to distract you from praise? And how did you overcome these unwanted thoughts?

"Resist the devil and he will flee". These thoughts are injected by evil spirits that pretend to be you. Bind the spirit behind the thought and cast it out of your mind. If it comes back, command it to go to the place reserved for the wicked angels that have sinned. My late mentor suffered terrible dreams. When he saw this truth, he told Satan, "You will run out of evil spirits before I quit casting them out". The dreams soon stopped.
I write my morning prayers and praise. It seems that my mind is fully occupied and intrusive thoughts can't get in. I still have to resist unwanted thoughts at times. It's a battle. We have the victory, but it's not automatic.

 

[Jeshu]

As of recent I've build up my faith for the lord like crazy ( I can't remember the last time I would even read scripture and watch sermons for hours and hours) .. But one thing I did notice is that the enemy keeps trying to remind me of my past, especially my ex gf and past friends who I no longer talk to or have outgrown.. I had forgotten about her for quite sometime now but he keeps bringing her into my thoughts throughout the day and even in some vivid dreams, and it sometimes brings a sadness to my heart. I've moved on long ago so idk why these thoughts of her are suddenly popping into my head again now that my faith is so strong in the lord. It's as if the enemy is trying to play mind games with me.. has anyone ever experienced the enemy playing tricks with you like this to distract you from praise? And how did you overcome these unwanted thoughts?

The best way to fight the accuser is to praise Jesus for setting you free from your sins. And if those sins of the past are still alive within you to repent of them and find freedom in His loving truth instead.

So praise Jesus each time satan cast the past on you, and pray for the future of both you and everyone else on this planet. That all come to find you. You will see that satan will soon stop pestering you.

Let the love of God undo all the sins living within you so that you can praise Jesus more and more. The more of His love lives in us the more we will refrain from sin, that is why satan tries to make you look at your sins, so Jesus is out of sight and grace is not feeding you.

So wherever you see the vultures in your life you know you need to bury the dead bodies there. Eating grace does that. Eating His grace fills you with His love and sets you free from your old life chasing.

Study The book of Ezekiel my friend. Especially Chapters 36 through to 39. It are those truths you need to find in your life with Him.

Peace.

 

[Pop D.]

"When the devil tries to remind you of your past, remind him of his future."

 

[com7fy8]

Years ago, I was in a wrong thing with a woman, but God had mercy on me and got me out. But not so long ago I fell for a woman who did not want me and was getting involved with a number of men in what did not work out for her. But I learned that my attraction for her was a toys for boys thing and I needed to grow in real loving. She can still come to mind, but I can love her and pray for her . . . not be critical of her or immorally effected.

So, I have been the one needing real and deep correction . . . of my own character . . . so wrong people and wrong things can't get to me, plus I am loving wrong people and having hope for them, in prayer.

And as I got interested in real loving, then was when I got my lady friend who has shared with me for maybe six or seven years now.

But it is possible the one I was crazy for has tried to interfere with us, including by doing certain seductive and teasing things. So, with God's blessing can come the exact opposite which Satan has permission to do. So, I have done well to be changed by God so that wrong people can not have power over me to get me to condemn them or to be charmed by them, but instead love them all and have hope in prayer for them > love "hopes all things", we have in 1 Corinthians 13:7.

So, I would say trust God to make you strong in love so you are not overcome by evil memories, plus you love and pray for people who come to mind. And when these impersonators of people discover they have arrived for a prayer meeting, they might leave very quickly . . . so that you will need God to remind you of the real people so you can pray for them.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

As of recent I've build up my faith for the lord like crazy ( I can't remember the last time I would even read scripture and watch sermons for hours and hours) .. But one thing I did notice is that the enemy keeps trying to remind me of my past, especially my ex gf and past friends who I no longer talk to or have outgrown.. I had forgotten about her for quite sometime now but he keeps bringing her into my thoughts throughout the day and even in some vivid dreams, and it sometimes brings a sadness to my heart. I've moved on long ago so idk why these thoughts of her are suddenly popping into my head again now that my faith is so strong in the lord. It's as if the enemy is trying to play mind games with me.. has anyone ever experienced the enemy playing tricks with you like this to distract you from praise? And how did you overcome these unwanted thoughts?

It is not the enemy, it is the Holy Spirit. Part of the forgiveness process is reconciliation. If one steals, they pay it back. If one causes emotional pain to another , they go back and make amends. This is how it works. We never forget what we have done in the past, we are forgiven yet God keeps us in check by reminding us of what we were in the past possibly urging us to make things right.
Another reason......
I believe this was Paul's thorn in his side. Not a literal thorn but a memory that would never leave him. The hunting and killing of Christians. Blessings.

 

[aiki]

I've moved on long ago so idk why these thoughts of her are suddenly popping into my head again now that my faith is so strong in the lord.

To see what you'll do with the thoughts. This is how Satan works. God's allowing the devil to test you. To what end?

1). To show you where you're really at with God.
2.) To teach you how to do battle spiritually.

And how did you overcome these unwanted thoughts?

2 Corinthians 10:4-5
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.
5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

How do you "take captive every thought to obey Christ"?

1.) By humbly submitting yourself - your desires, your feelings, your thoughts, your conduct - to God all throughout every day. (Romans 12:1; Romans 6:13-22; James 4:7, 10; 1 Peter 5:6, etc.) When God is in control of you, He will fill you with Himself and transform you, in the process freeing you from all bondage to the World, the Flesh and the devil.

2.) Love God with all of your being. This is the First and Great Commandment from which obedience to all of God's other commands is to arise. (Matthew 22:35-38) Love - a deep longing, a deep heart's desire - for God is the only motivation powerful enough to overcome our natural, sinful selfishness (to which Satan always appeals) and lead us into rich, joyful, holy fellowship with God. And it is this wonderful fellowship with God that is supposed to be the fundamental safeguard we have against the tempting wiles of the devil. Loving God deeply, we reject anything that would negatively affect our precious fellowship with Him.

This is how God has made us to work: We follow our desires. Consequently, if God is the object of our greatest desire (as He should be), we follow after Him - even when it may cost us severely to do so, even when it means we must put aside friendships, distracting entertainments or hobbies, illicit sexual gratification, that unnecessary extra piece of cake or pizza, or suffer the unjust assassination of our reputation for His sake, and so on. The Love Motive is so vital to Christian living that the apostle Paul went so far as to say that no matter what we say, or know, or do, if it doesn't all come from a motive of love for God, first of all, and then for those He loves, it is all useless. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)

3.) By "piercing" the devil's lying thoughts and feelings with the Truth of God's word (Hebrews 4:12). Use the "sword of the Spirit which is the word of God" (Ephesians 6:17) to expose false, devilish thoughts and feelings and then reject them, standing by faith upon God's truth, anchoring yourself to it.

4.) By focusing yourself upon the things of God. We are always in some measure conformed to our focus: The more a thing occupies your focus, the more it gains influencing power over you. So, "look unto Jesus" (Hebrews 12:2-3), "behold the glory of the Lord" (2 Corinthians 3:18), think on what is "true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of a good report" (Philippians 4:8) and you will find that as you do, by the Spirit, you are conformed to your focus and become more like Christ rather than succumbing to the lying thoughts and feelings the devil places in your mind.

 

[eleos1954]

As of recent I've build up my faith for the lord like crazy ( I can't remember the last time I would even read scripture and watch sermons for hours and hours) .. But one thing I did notice is that the enemy keeps trying to remind me of my past, especially my ex gf and past friends who I no longer talk to or have outgrown.. I had forgotten about her for quite sometime now but he keeps bringing her into my thoughts throughout the day and even in some vivid dreams, and it sometimes brings a sadness to my heart. I've moved on long ago so idk why these thoughts of her are suddenly popping into my head again now that my faith is so strong in the lord. It's as if the enemy is trying to play mind games with me.. has anyone ever experienced the enemy playing tricks with you like this to distract you from praise? And how did you overcome these unwanted thoughts?

The devil never gives up on distorting the love and grace of God. He (the devil) indeed is the accuser. Hold fast to the Lord, knowing He has forgiven your sin and cast out the thoughts calling on the name of Jesus.

“Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: ‘Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down’” (Revelation 12:10)

 

[tturt]

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Philippians 4:8

Research some of God's names, titles, and attributions. Could check the lists against Scripture. Here's a few:

1. "Jehovah Nissi (The Lord My Banner)
2. Jehovah Raah (The Lord My Shepherd)
3. Jehovah Rapha (The Lord That Heals)
4. Jehovah Tsidkenu (The Lord Our Righteousness)
5. Jehovah Mekoddishkem (The Lord Who Sanctifies You)
6. Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Will Provide)
7. Jehovah Shalom (The Lord Is Peace)"
8. (source: instaencouragements.com)

ETC

 

[Blade]

Reading the bible one day and in the margin said something like if your heart convicts you you won't get anything from God. I got up and said "I quit for my heart convicts me 24/7" thats sin of my past and today. So as I was leaving the small voice asked me "what is righteousness?" I turned and said "ok ok righteousness is right standing with God" He asked "how do you get righteousness?" I said "by believing in Jesus". It was as if I was blind and could see. I then had to go to the word lol and make sure that what I once heard was true.

See our Father aka GOD is faithful to what Christ did on that cross for the world to all that will believe. In this case what is written? Think about Paul in the NT what he did to believers... yet once saved filled with the holy Spirit (luke 11 13) by the holy Spirit said of which you now say about your past "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,". Its under the blood.. leave it there. Tell saying to leave in JESUS name and praise the lord.. sing to Him and rejoice!

What you do is find what God said about any problem and speak believe if He said it He will do it. And YES AMEN to tturt Phil is a great book/letter to read and KNOW those are GODS words. Satan is just trying to steal your joy. There is always some kind of test as we grow in this world. PRAISE GOD glory to Jesus