Life is busy and I don't often find (or make) time to participate in these Five Minute Friday free writes. And honestly, this topic didn't really "tempt" me, not even a little. But, it is Spring Break, I so have a little more time these next several days, and if I don't take advantage of the opportunity, I might regret it later. Then, I saw this quote by a really unlikely source of inspiration, at least for me!
The past is a great place
and
I don't want to erase it or to regret it,
but I don't want to be its prisoner either.
~ Mick Jagger
I love this perspective.
It is so easy to live in the past - either replaying triumphs while trying to recreate the high of mountain-top moments, or hiding paralyzed by mistakes, afraid to even try and move forward from fear of another overwhelming regret.
Neither is beneficial, to self or to others.
While there may be some benefit to briefly recalling what God has done in the past to glorify His name, dwelling there or continually repeating the same stories distracts from what God just might be doing in the present. Not only that, others just might start to wonder if God only ever worked in our pasts.
Obviously there can be advantages if we (or others) benefit from our personal regrets, learning from those mistakes, growing and moving forward. When we wallow in them, however, we become a discouragement and instead of a message of reconciliation and restoration, we preach that there are some things that not even God can redeem.
There's no bigger lie than that.
In a world that looks for reasons to disregard Christ and those who share his message, why let regret for what the Savior has already made reparation become their stumbling block
For the grace of God has appeared,
bringing salvation to all men,
instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires
and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,
looking for the blessed hope
and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,
who gave Himself for us
to redeem us
from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people
for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority.
Let no one disregard you.
Titus 2.11-14 (NASB)
Thanks for the sobering reminder that living in the past is detrimental not only to me but to others. As you noted, "When we wallow in them, however, we become a discouragement and instead of a message of reconciliation and restoration, we preach that there are some things that not even God can redeem." Thank you. Visiting from FMF.
ReplyDeleteIt was a good reminder to myself, too! :-) Thanks for the visit.
Delete