I spoke to a friend from college the other day. We hadn't talked in a good long while. But during the conversation she began opening up about some things that had transpired in her life. She had dropped out of school, made some bad financial moves and ruined her credit, and gotten into a terrible relationship along the way. She was really down and depressed about all of it.
She beat herself up over it constantly too. She told me it got to the point where she didn't even want to get out of bed in the morning sometimes. As I sat there listening, I noticed how stuck she was in her past. She didn't know how to live in the present and look toward the future with optimism. When she was done venting, I shared this with her and I think it's worth repeating.
In life, we can spend so much time lamenting bad decisions and agonizing over poor choices we've made that have led to hardships, struggles, and difficulties. But the next time you feel yourself turning down that road of regret, redirect your thoughts. Instead of giving over to your personal lamentations, quote the scripture from the book of Lamentations that I started this post out with. It will help you rediscover the mercies of God and recognize that each time you wake up in the morning, there is a brand new mercy waiting for you.
No matter what mistakes you have made in your life, God is a compassionate God, and His grace is yet sufficient to carry you through.
It is a trick of the enemy to keep you locked up in depression and condemnation over something God has since forgive you for. No matter what it is, you can move forward. If you've awoken to a new day, a new beginning is available to you.
Start fresh.
You see, there's nothing you can do about the days gone by from your past. I know it can be hard to let things go and move on, but you have to. Perhaps your poor decisions have negatively impacted your relationships, finances, health, ministry, business, career, or even your children. While you may feel badly about what has occurred, there is nothing you can do to turn back the hands of time.
But you can chart a new course for your future, relying on the faithfulness of God to guide you through each and every storm. He's there. He's willing and He's able to help you pick up the pieces of your life in whatever area they may be broken.
Today, if there's a choice from your past that has negatively affected your life, I want you to release the guilt from it and start fresh. It's time to stop mourning over it now.
It's over.
Accept what happened and take full responsibility for it. But after that, don't you let the enemy, yourself, or anyone else keep you bound to the mistakes of your past. Tap into the mercy and compassion of God. He's waiting to usher you into your new beginning, but you cannot move forward if you're always looking backward.
As long as you've got breath in your body, you can always begin again. Instead of dwelling on past mistakes, start giving God praise for a "do over." Thank Him for another opportunity to get it right! Once you begin praising, that heaviness will lift off of you. The Lord is sending His word today, "to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness" (Isaiah 61:3 KJV).
As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may you be empowered to prosper!
Dianna Hobbs
