The new year always brings opportunities for reflection on the past. While I believe that it is important for us to look forward - to set goals for ourselves, and then work hard to achieve those goals - I also understand quite well that our past influences our future choices. I have to admit that at this time of the year, my reflections on the past are often filled with regret. Regret over words that have been spoken in haste; regret over decisions that were made impetuously; regret over time wasted, over resources squandered, and over relationships that have been broken. Sometimes I think that my regrets have such a stranglehold on me that it impairs my ability to look positively to the future.
I thank God that He is stronger than our regrets. The word "regret" only appears three times in Scripture. Once in the OT, where it is said of Jehoram that "He passed away, to no one's regret" (2 Chronicles 21:20) Not a very pleasant epitaph, huh? The other two times are both used by the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians. In chapter 7 Paul says this. . . "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret."
The impact of those words are really staggering, when you think about it. If all of our "regrets" were turned into "Godly sorrow" it would change our entire focus of attention from self-pity to insightful meditation. You see, while regret invites us to our own pity party, Godly sorrow prods us to a course of action: repentance. Repentance means change. Repentance means to "turn away from" our previous course of action. In this specific case, of course, Paul is referring to salvation. However, the principle applies to the rest of our Christian experience as well.
Perhaps you have something in your past that you regret. The fact that you regret something leaves you empty and dissatisfied. . . because regret's conclusion is sorrow, disappointment, and a sense of loss. Turn that regret into godly sorrow - and you immediately change the whole perspective to one in which there is a rationale for future action.
For those that are involved in worship ministries it is a great burden to carry around our regrets. It will keep you from being totally available to the work of the Spirit in your life and will hinder your ministry. I encourage you to turn those regrets today into godly sorrow - and see how God will transform those regrets into positive, life-changing growth in your Christian life. Perhaps you have had an experience where you have had the opportunity to do just that - please share it with the rest of us so that we can be an encouragement to one another today!
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when you talk about regrets it reminds me of the "Everyone Loves Raymond" episode regarding regrets. It is hilarious! I think in our ministry it is difficult not to feel regret sometimes. I often feel like I wasn't as prepared as I'd like to have been, or we as a team are just getting through it without as much passion as we should have, because it is like a job. Get in, do it, and get out! (even practices (Mon nights), which feel to me more like a run through than a practice most times, but I guess that's what practice is- "a run through".) I know we can use the temp. building we are in as an easy excuse (I use it too!), but I wonder what God thinks about it sometimes. I know to give it all over to God and let Him take over, and He does! I think we all do our best, give it over to God, and let Him take care of everything else. But to me, leading worship on Sunday mornings is an awesome responsibility! For the most part, we make it look easy, and that's a good thing. Could we do better as a team? I just don't want to regret anything later!
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