I’ve been thinking about living with no regrets. One way to do that is to live each day as if there’s no tomorrow. The bible says: “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom”. (Psalm 90:11)
Wisdom is the art of knowing how to live well; how to live passionately and purposely for what matters most, to love God, and to love others.
The thing is not to allow fear, busyness, and worry rob our passion and purpose, so that we can look back and have no regrets. It’s not possible to live with no mistakes or to live our whole life without sin or failure, but it is possible to live with no regrets! Here’s some thoughts how:
1. Keep short accounts, free from resentment. God give’s us a clean slate when we come to Him. Should we not freely extend a clean slate to others, as if today were our last. Life’s too important to let relational junk build up. We can start by learning to keep our relational slate clean with God. Otherwise, we can’t really love people well and live with no regrets daily.
We all have fallen short of our best at different times leading us to feel wretched and regretful. People know deep down the words Paul wrote:
“I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing…What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me? “– Romans 7:18-19, 24
We can feel guilty, disappointed and ashamed. This can lead to us trying to justify and rationalize ourselves, but in reality, trying harder, making excuses, or even lowering our standards doesn’t change the inside of us at all, or the regret we carry.
But there’s another way…its the “Way of Forgiveness”.
God has paid to forgive us for all our wrongs and the things we regret.
As Jesus hung between two thieves who had likely even murdered someone, one mocked Jesus and demanded he prove He was the messiah by getting him off the cross. The other thief said, “We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:41-43
It’s never too late, and it’s never too soon to be forgiven, to forgive yourself, and to set things right with God. As the thief demonstrated, God’s ready to forgive and take back anyone, anytime, without doing anything except admitting they need Him.
Most of us have relational pain in our past. Someone we’ve wronged, or someone who may have wronged us. But the way of forgiveness lifts that planet of regret off our shoulders.
If you have accepted God’s forgiveness, the Holy spirit lives within you and will guide you to live with short accounts and a clean slate before God and others. If you listen to His voice in your heart, following and obeying the wisdom found in in the bible of how to relate to others, He will help prevent you from having relational regret.
Today make a decision not to live with regrets about relationships where you have been wronged or have done wrong. Let it go, and allow God’s forgiveness to flow into your life
Life is too precious and filled with such possibilities. Don’t allow regrets to steal from you. Come to God in honesty, ask forgiveness, give it in turn to others, and live free from regret.
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone”. – Romans 12:18
Prayer: Lord thank you that your forgiveness lifts the weight of regret from my shoulders. Help me to keep short accounts, and to live making the most of every day. Please give me wisdom as I relate to others, so that I will have no regrets. In Jesus name Amen.
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