What are you regretting?

 ”When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one that has opened for us.” Alexander Graham Bell

As you look back over the year, I’m sure there are things that you regret.  Even though you probably remember many blessings and high points and are thankful for what the Lord has done, there will be things you regret that are spoiling your now and spilling over into your future.  

• Broken resolutions
• Bad habits still in place
• Flashes of anger
• Letters unwritten
• Phone calls not made
• Opportunities that you didn’t take
• Harsh words
• Allowing yourself to be too busy to spend quality time with God

Your  list of regrets could probably fill this page. If you are anyhting like me you have high expectations of yourself and of others, and you have a keen conscience, that magnifies  your regrets.

Regret is only good when it leads to repentance and salvation

For having sorrow in a godly way results in repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regrets. But the sorrow of the world produces death.

Godly regret, is the uncomfortable feeling of guilt you get when you know you have sinned.  A sensitive conscience is a gift from your heavenly Father. All you need to do is to respond to His prompting, confess your sin and allow Him to cleanse you of guilt. If necessary, make ammends, then let go of the regret.

You have nothing to gain by continuing to regret anything. If you are still regretting something ask yourself,

• “What can I learn from this?” 
• “What will I do differently next time?”

And allow yourself to move on. Maybe now is a good time to take stock, think about what you would like to happen instead, and with God’s help make a plan to help make it a possibility.