WRONG CHOICES (Peace Robber#6)
A mistake is something that may have been misunderstood or performed accidently. Choices are conscience acts between two possibilities. There is a thin line between the two definitions. At this point, I am not going to split hairs. Everyone has made good choices that rendered good results and bad choices that concluded in ill consequences. Whether all the information was available or a deliberate act against wise counsel. The results are the same.
I would be remiss in not adding if we rely on God for direction in all aspects of our lives, listen to His wise counsel, and walk in His way, good choices will outweigh the bad ones. Making a bad choice is not necessarily a peace robber. The prolonged dwelling on the wrong choice is the peace robber. We focus too much on past mistakes and failures. Pray for the past mistakes and move on. There must some type of pondering on the wrong choice to ensure it will not be repeated, just don’t set up residence there. Too often, the ability to move on is stagnated, due to living in the past. But, regardless, if a wrong choice is made and the ill effects come raining down, learn to stop, look and listen.
Stop and take responsibility for the wrong choice. This is the time people will begin to play the blame game, pointing the finger at everyone else. Start praying. Ask for forgiveness. Begin to praise God for helping you to see this incorrect decision. Praise Him for the answer or the deliverance even though you don’t know what it is or how it will happen.
Look and remember the times God delivered you from other wrong choices. Dwell on how He saved you. This is the step when people can only see how bad things are, viewing only the hopelessness, looking at everyone’s perfect life and seeing how they are always mistreated. Stop looking around and start looking up.
Listen for God’s voice. Take heed for His direction. This is the stage when you tell everyone your story. Gathering everyone’s opinion on the matter. Learn to tune in to God’s Word and tune out the world’s solutions.
But the good man—what a different story! For the good man—the blameless, the upright, the man of peace—he has a wonderful future ahead of him. For him there is a happy ending. Psalm 37:37Living Bible (TLB)
Okay, you lost your car, house, job or spouse, from wrong choices. How long do you think you should continue to beat yourself up? A month? 6 months? A year? 5 years? 10 years? The amount of time depends on the person, and there is not allotted time for recovery. However, the past is behind you and the future is ahead. Which way do you want to live your life?
Forgiveness will always be a part in recovery. Forgive yourself. Forgive others that may have played a part in the matter. And by all means do not blame God for the mess. God is not the creator of evil, the devil is.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness 1 John 1:9King James Version (KJV)