“Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.” Isaiah 43:18 KJV
Day 4: Purge Your Regrets
Do you have things in your life that you feel regretful over? Situations that you wish you hadn't been a part of? Things you wish you hadn't said?
Remember that spring is a time of rebirth. In the same way that our earth self- cleanses and purges itself of whatever it no longer needs, you can expel those regrets that may be causing you emotional distress and holding you back from blossoming.
What kind of regrets do you have?
Maybe you regret getting involved in an unhealthy relationship that left you feeling doubtful and unsure.
Maybe you regret saying or doing something that hurt someone else.
Maybe you regret not standing up for yourself at a time when someone may have taken advantage of you.
Maybe you regret working too hard, and missing out on fun times. Or, perhaps the opposite... maybe you regret not working hard enough!
How does regret make you feel?
Do you beat yourself up over it? Take your inspiration from God’s wonderful creation in springtime. The earth undergoes dramatic changes... weather changes impact lives. Water wears away at — and restructures the land as we know it.
Remember that what may seem like destruction, including that of yourself or another, ultimately causes something new to take shape, and often in a more evolved form.
When you get stuck in a regretful mindset, you prevent yourself from moving forward and experiencing the JOY that God wants for you.
Three Tips to Let Go of Regret:
1. Embrace a mindset to REJOICE and NOT REGRET.
The more we focus on rejoicing in the present, the less time we will spend looking back on the past in regret.
Psalms 68:3 says, “But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.”
Romans 5:2 says, “By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
2. Embrace a different perspective.
The heroes in our Bible were not perfect and without regrets. For David, he learned to lean upon God’s goodness and mercy. For Paul, who had a hand in persecuting Christians, he made a mindset to let go of the past things so that he could focus on spreading the gospel.
Paul said in Philippians 3:13, “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,”
Paul also said afterward in Philippians 4:4 says, “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.”
Aren’t you glad that God didn’t just tell us the good deeds of our Bible heroes? God also revealed their flaws so that we could learn from those mistakes, and also see how God was still able to use them.
3. Embrace God’s GRACE and FORGIVENESS
With regret, the real issue seems to be forgiving ourselves. But here’s the thing to consider, why would God encourage us to forgive others and not want us to also forgive ourselves?
Ephesians 4:32 says, “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”
Be kind to yourself and forgive your past mistakes and regrets.
Now, embrace God’s grace and mercy whole heartily. It’s yours for the taking! You just need to remember that God loves you just as much as He loves others… His grace and mercy are for YOU as well!
Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
Journal Exercise: Address Regrets, Then Let Them Go
In today's journal exercise, we'll be writing out some thoughts about things we may wish we didn't do or say (or, conversely, wish that we DID do or say but didn't have the nerve, or let the opportunity slip past for some other reason).
List three things that happened, or that you did or said, which caused you to feel regret.
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What do you specifically feel regretful about, and why?
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If you could press rewind or delete on the situation and do it over, what would you do or say differently?
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Next, instead of dwelling on what you should have or should not have done, think about what steps you can take to repair the situation that you feel regretful about.
Is your regret related to a relationship? How can you approach the person differently in the future? What will you do?
Added Thoughts:
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Set Your Intention:
Make a plan to take action on whatever you need to, in order to alleviate yourself of regret. (Review the three tips above. Write them down if it will help.)
Remember that there is no turning back the clock on what's already happened; however, you do have the ability to change the here and now and the future.
God will bless your efforts to walk uprightly. Psalms 84:11b says, “The LORD will give GRACE and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.”
Bible Verses to Reflect Upon:
“Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O LORD.” Psalm 25:7 KJV
“For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give GRACE and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.” Psalm 84:11 KJV
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:” Ecclesiastes 3:1 KJV
“Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.” Isaiah 43:18 KJV
“By whom also we have access by faith into this GRACE wherein we stand, and REJOICE in HOPE of the glory of God.” Romans 5:2 KJV
“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under GRACE.” Romans 6:14 KJV
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:1 KJV
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 KJV
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:2 KJV
Spring Cleaning for the Soul #4