“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But on the other hand, forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I pursue the goal for the prize of God’s invitation in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature, think this (way); and if someone thinks otherwise, even God will reveal it to you. Nevertheless, the place into which we have arrived, the same follow.” (Philippians 3:13-16 author’s translation)
Consider the depth of wisdom expressed by the Apostle’s encouragement (above) to the saints at Philippi. In addition, note that wisdom applied in the following quote:
“People have to face regrets. Becoming mature means learning to
accept what you cannot change, facing unresolved sorrows and
learning to love life as it really happens, not as you would have it
happen. When someone attaches unkindness to criticism, she’s angry.
Angry people need to criticize as an outlet for their anger. That’s why
you must reject unkind criticism. Unkind criticism is never part of a
meaningful critique of you. Its purpose is not to teach or to help, its
purpose is to punish. Life isn’t supposed to be an all or nothing battle
between misery and bliss. Life isn’t supposed to be a battle at all. And
when it comes to happiness, well, sometimes life is just okay, sometimes
it’s comfortable, sometimes wonderful, sometimes boring, sometimes
unpleasant. When your day’s not perfect, it’s not a failure or a terrible
loss. It’s just another day.” Barbara Sher
Consider this quote carefully, perhaps it might give us pause to evaluate our regrets over the last year. There are probably a few things we have done — or failed to do — that we wish we would have done.
It may surprise us to discover that virtually every regret comes from what we have failed to do — actions we did not take — opportunities we failed to seize. Somewhere in the late 1970s, I had the opportunity to buy gold at $35 per ounce. I believed that it would increase in price, but I was afraid that I was wrong. I didn’t buy any gold and the price stopped climbing around $1,000 per ounce.
Let’s not dwell to long in our regrets evaluation. It will hinder us indefinitely. It will bring our progress to a grinding halt. Instead, lets jump start our lives — our purpose — our future.
Is there a key to making 2011 the best year we have experienced? Yes! We can change our habits — make better choices — and exercise faith. “Now faith is the substance of our hoping, the evidence of our active undertaking, not of our seeing” (Hebrews 11:1 author’s translation). You see, on the one hand, faith is believing. Yet, on the other hand, faith is action. The belief is our substance of hope, but our active effort (undertaking) is the evidence that we truly believe the hope exists. “For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead” (James 2:26 NAS).
Without question, changing habits and making better choices will require us to exercise our will. Exercising faith will require repeatedly renewing our determination. From the deepest recesses of our being, we will call on our resolve, our commitment, and God’s anointing power. We can do anything and everything by the strength of Christ!
Dear Father, thank you for giving us a future. Enable us to put the past behind us and stretch toward the prize that you have invited us to receive. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be courageous and mature in your faith,