TODAY’S SCRIPTURES
Luke 22:54-62
John 21:1-17
Philippians 3:13-14
TODAY’S BOTTOM LINE:
God’s grace frees us from the ghosts of our past, so we can live fully in the present and move toward the future.
GOD’S
12 Common Ways Regret Shows Up in our Behavior:
Overthinking and Rumination
We constantly replay past decisions in our minds, imagining how things could have been different.
Avoiding Certain People or Places
We go out of our way to steer clear of people or situations that remind us of our past mistakes.
Perfectionism
We overcompensate for our regrets by trying to avoid making any mistakes in the future; we become obsessed with getting everything ‘right.’
Self-Criticism or Harsh Self-Judgment
We become overly critical of ourselves, feeling unworthy of anything good.
Fear of New Risks or Opportunities: This is big one. Past regrets can cause us to hesitate to take new steps forward in life. We make decisions out of fear of repeating past regrets.
Inability to Enjoy the Present
We become so fixated on the past that we can’t fully enjoy the present.
Procrastination or Indecisiveness
We put off making important decisions because we’re afraid of making the same mistake - or a similar mistake - again.
Isolating from Others
We withdraw from relationships and social activities because of shame and guilt.
Seeking Excessive Validation
We need other people to affirm our worth - or the decisions we’ve made - to counterbalance our regret.
Holding onto Unhealthy Relationships
We cling to relationships that no longer serve us out of regret for past failures.
Living in the “What-Ifs”
When we think of the past, we always find ourselves thinking “If only…what if?”
Sabotaging Positive Changes
Regret can make us avoid positive change because we feel like we don’t deserve success or happiness.
Peter wasn’t just
Regret can make us question our worth, our value, and our place in the world. —Brene Brown, “Atlas of the Heart”
Regret can be a call to courage and a path toward wisdom. —Brene Brown, “Atlas of the Heart”
Regret doesn’t have to define us. Here’s why:
Jesus takes our regret and transforms it into a future full of
But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. —Philippians 3:13-14
You do not have to be
3 STEPS FOR HANDING OVER YOUR REGRET TO GOD:
STEP 1:
YOUR REGRET.
We cannot heal what we do not acknowledge. —Brene Brown, “Atlas of the Heart”
STEP 2: PRACTICE
.
Jesus wants you to extend the grace he’s given you to yourself. —Pastor Brad
STEP 3: TAKE ONE
FORWARD.
Ask yourself, “What is one small step that I can take to move forward?”
2 SPIRITUAL PRACTICES FOR OVERCOMING REGRET:
PRACTICE 1: PRAY A SIMPLE, DAILY PRAYER OF RELEASE:
God, I release my regret to you, and I trust You with my future.
PRACTICE 2: MEDITATE ON PHILIPPIANS 3:13-14
Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. —Philippians 3:13-14
REGRET DOESN’T HAVE TO HAUNT YOU.
LIKE PETER, WE CAN RECEIVE THE GRACE JESUS OFFERS AND MOVE FORWARD.
WILL YOU OPEN YOUR HEART TO JESUS?
Maybe you’ve been carrying regret for a long time. Well, you don’t have to do that anymore. Jesus offers something better. He invites us to trade our past for His grace. That is the best deal you’ll find. Maybe today, you’d like to “put down that backpack”. Maybe it’s time to let go of your regrets and open your heart to Jesus. It’s a simple as saying, “Jesus, I’m ready. I trust you.” You don’t need to have it all figured out—just take the step today and let Jesus give you the fresh start you’ve been searching for.
PRAY WITH US
God, I don’t want to keep carrying the weight of my past. I’m ready to let go of the regret and open my heart to something new. Jesus, I’m inviting You into my life. I don’t have all the answers, but I believe You can give me the fresh start I need. I choose to trust You with my past and my future. Help me move forward with Your grace. Amen
OUR MOSAIC PRAYER (BENEDICTION)
May the beauty of God be reflected in our eyes,
The love of God be reflected in our hands,
The wisdom of God be reflected in our words,
And the knowledge of God flow from our hearts,
So that everyone around us might see and believe.