We all know the definition of regret. We have all experienced regrets in our lifetime, and the sense of loss and disappointment and remorse can totally consume us and steal our joy if we morbidly dwell on past sins, or on wasted years. Making mistakes is part of the human experience; we are all imperfect and we sin. The true believer will find comfort in God's Holy Word, and the more we keep His commandments and obey Him, the fewer regrets we will have. Thank the good Lord for His grace and mercy ! Jesus came to redeem us from our sinful state. All we have to do is to repent and by faith believe in Him, and endeavor to live as godly a life as possible with the Holy Spirit's help.
"And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." - Ephesians 4:30
Speaking of foolish decisions and bad choices, the apostle Peter comes to mind when he denied Jesus. How bad is that ! He did not intend to sin; his denial came from fear, spiritual immaturity, and probably just impulse.
"And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny Me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly." - Matthew 26:75
What a terrible thing to have to live with ! What regret! Jesus knew how crushed and repentant Peter was, and later showed him love and forgiveness, restoring him.
Please realize that it is important to understand that regret is not the same as repentance. Esau regretted his decision to sell his birthright, but he never repented of this sin (Hebrews 12:16-17). Regret tends to focus on the action that has brought pain and sorrow, whereas repentance focuses on the one we have offended.
"For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death." - 2 Corinthians 7:10 (NASB)
Judas, who betrayed Jesus, had worldly sorrow (regret) and he committed suicide. Peter had godly sorrow (repentance) and his life was transformed.
Although it is natural to regret our past sins and unintentional impulse decisions against God's will, we do not want to wallow in our past mistakes and think of nothing else but how bad we are.
This is where some people beat themselves up constantly because they cannot forgive themselves and feel worthless and depressed. It will eat you up with bitterness and regret if you are not careful, and thereby steal your joy.
If you are a mature believer and truly born again, you will know all this morbid dwelling on past sins is the devil trying to tear you down and make you ineffective as a productive soul winner. Remember, he is called the deceiver and the accuser. (Revelation 12:10)
Keeping your thoughts on wholesome and godly things will also help tremendously. But remember, if you have confessed all known sin and have been truly repentant, the good Lord has wiped the slate clean....your sins have been forgiven ! Why dwell on your past mistakes when the Lord has forgotten them and made you clean and whole?! Thank and praise the Lord always for His grace and mercy. Think on good things, as Philippians 4:8 tells us:
"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."
Did you know that the Bible tells us to forget those things which are behind?
"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before," - Philippians 3:13
So sing praises to the Lord ! Thank Him always for His forgiveness ! Saturate your mind with His Holy Word and develop a close, personal, intimate love relationship with God through Jesus Christ ! Spend much time in prayer! Then your mind will be filled with godly and pleasant thoughts and you will not dwell on past mistakes in a way that steals your joy in the Lord.
Psalm 103:8-12 tells us: (8) " The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. (9) He will not always chide: neither will He keep His anger for ever. (10) He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities, (11) For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him. (12) As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgression from us."
