July 3rd and I am staring a day off from work right in the face. Come on July 4th. In keeping with the temporary theme of Christmas in July, my trusty mug is filled with Door County Jingle Bell Java Coffee. Merry Christmas!
I promised that I would comment on how to recover from a bad choice. The comments are my own, taught to me from making too many bad choices in life. Let's get right to it.
When you realize that you made a wrong choice, stop in your tracks and do not perpetuate the choice. If you clearly are in violation of God's principles, stop and ask Him to forgive you. This act of contrition must come from the heart. If you have hurt others seek their forgiveness. They do not have to forgive you. Be ready for that. Accept it and hopefully it will change with time.
1 John 1:9New International Version (NIV)
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
James 5:16English Standard Version (ESV)
16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
Accept the fact that you made the choice and you own it. Do not place the blame on others.
1. Romans 2:1 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.
2. Romans 2:3 So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment?
3. Matthew 7:3-5 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
4. James 1:14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
Next, with most bad choices there might be consequences to your actions. Don't whine, accept the consequences with grace and dignity. This shows a sign of maturity.
Jeremiah 17:9-10English Standard Version (ESV)
9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
10 “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways,
according to the fruit of his deeds.”
10 “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways,
according to the fruit of his deeds.”
11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
What seems very hard for us to do, is to learn from our mistakes. What is disgusting is that we often return to the same bad choices, not learning from the last time. There can be some value in a bad choice and the consequences, when we learn from the trial.
What seems very hard for us to do, is to learn from our mistakes. What is disgusting is that we often return to the same bad choices, not learning from the last time. There can be some value in a bad choice and the consequences, when we learn from the trial.
James 1:21-25English Standard Version (ESV)
21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
These have been two of the tougher lessons I have written about it in a long time. We live in a world that shirks responsibility for actions and it is a sad situation. God has a lot to say about making the right choices. We would do well to heed His advice.
God Bless,
Marty
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