December 29

As the year winds down, it is easy to stand in that place of regret. Certainly it is valuable to learn from our mistakes, or recognize how things could have gone differently, but it is not God’s intention for us to wallow in regret. The better way to handle the regrets of our past year is to lay them on the altar (and leave them there.) We have to be willing to surrender not just our future but also our past. We have to be able to give it all to Jesus. We can rest assured that He is still with us even through our consequences. He stated over and over again in His word that He is with us ALWAYS and that He will NEVER LEAVE US. This applies to every minute of every day in every circumstance, even when it is through the consequences of our mistakes and regrets.

Surrender, that’s a word that most people think has negative implications. When we think of surrender, we think of enemies in war raising the white flag and becoming the prisoners of the winning side. However, in our circumstances as Christ followers, it is a glorious word that signifies FREEDOM rather than bondage. Surrender is what frees us from the regret, sin, hurts, habits, hangups and shame that we carry with us everywhere. Too often we think of surrendering our future, our will, our habits, our finances, our time, etc. but we forget to include our past, our regrets. Today, we need to recognize that our mistakes are not only forgiven but they are forgotten. We need to let them go. Ask Jesus to help you see your mistakes from His perspective and help you let go of them and the shame.

Don’t associate your past sins with your identification. You’re identity is in Christ and the victory that He brings you, your regret and shame is not your identity.

Philippians 3:13b-14 “But one thing I do: FORGETTING WHAT IS BEHIND and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Colossians 3:1-3 “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”

Hebrews 4:14-16 “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

2 Corinthians 7:10 “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves NO REGRET, but worldly sorrow brings death.”

Don’t take your shame and regret from 2024 into 2025, leave it on the altar today. You may still have consequences to walk through but Jesus is walking through it with you and He is not ashamed to call you His.

Hebrews 2:11 “Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So JESUS IS NOT ASHAMED to call them brothers and sisters.”