Look To The Future

Look To The Future “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” 2nd Corinthians 7:10 When we look back on our lives we all have regrets. We have had times when we have made the wrong decisions about a business situation, a relationship, a financial issue or even a family matter. Many times these bad decisions continue to haunt us, and we have difficulties getting over the consequences of what these decisions have caused. As I have counseled people over the years about the problems they were having I have found that almost every one of them have the same thing in common. They almost always start their conversation with two words, “if only”. If only I had done things different. If only I hadn’t lost my temper. If only I had been wiser. If only I had listened. The trouble with “if only” is that it doesn’t change anything. It keeps the person facing the wrong way—backward instead of forward. If you let “if only” become a habit, it can become a roadblock—an excuse for not trying anymore. The answer to us constantly keep reminding ourselves of the past mistakes, is to begin to use the phrase “next time” When we continue to think “if only”, we stay in the past, but when we begin to think about the future we need to think “next time”. “If only” keeps reminding us of negative things, but “next time” keeps us thinking positive, and that there is a brighter future waiting. We should never let the past regrets keep haunting our lives, but need to get over them. 1st Peter 5:10 “God, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” The next time you find yourself dwelling in the past hurts and disappointments, think about “next time”, and your attitude will be changed to a positive outlook on life. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven March 1