Photo Credit: Danilo Rizzuti, FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Regret is a powerful master. It can hinder our best intentions, and it can paralyze our future. It invades every thought and deed and all the while robs us of the joy there is in doing good to others.
What is Regret?
R – Reliving past mistakes.
E – Evoking the pain felt in the past to the way you feel today.
G – Giving into the bondage of woulda, coulda, shoulda.
R – Remembering only the negative and missing the positive.
E – Emersing yourself in self-pity.
T – Takes away your joy.
Regret is a horrible way to live, and the enemy of our soul knows this is one of the easiest ways to make us ineffective. There was a time in my life when I would have never considered helping other moms because I felt the only thing I had to give them was a bad example. A dear friend lovingly rebuked me for refusing to acknowledge my sin, seek forgiveness and move on to the freedom found in sharing my life – the good and the bad – with others. Most of us learn best from the mistakes others make. It’s only our pride that cringes at the thought of being known so vulnerably.
Regret wants to keep your testimony locked away where it won’t be able to influence others with the Gospel. Regret wants to rob you of your Merry Christmas because regret is NEVER merry.
How do you let go of regret?
Only by the power found in the Gospel. Repent of your past mistakes, and let Christ take away the burden this sin has weighed on you. Watch how the joy will come rushing in like a flood. True freedom is only a confession away. And as one who has been set free, I can’t help but shout it from the housetops (or from the fingertips of my computer keyboard).
Photo Credit: graur razvan ionut (Freedigitalimages.com)
If you knew the struggle I’ve had with this post alone you would be thrilled to enter into worship with me. Only God can take someone who is feeling disqualified and qualify them through the Cross of Christ. And He is the reason we celebrate Christmas. Without the Gospel there would be no Merry. A good reminder to us all on this Friday.
How is the Merry in your Christmas? Have you felt regret weighing you down?
The Romantic Vineyard 
I agree that regret is one of the most powerful negative emotions. It seems to have a very long hold on people. I think of hell as a place of eternal regret. It’s one more reason to live with love and to be willing to sacrifice for others, because with those choices comes joy in place of the regret.
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You’re so right, Lori! Regret is like living in a strangle-hold. It squeezes the life out of us. And hell is as you say – eternal regret.
Thanks for stopping by!
Debi
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Thank you, Debi, for sharing this. And for sharing your life — the good and the bad — with ME! I love and respect you so much!
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I really needed this today. Regret is an almost constant companion of mine, and the ironic part is that it keeps me doing the things that cause it in the first place! Bless you for your blog service.
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Beautiful song I have never heard this before, might have to share it on my facebook page. thanks
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