Article by Carol Meyer, Women’s Apostolic Alliance Member
Do you ever wonder ‘What if?’
I find sometimes thinking back over my life and wondering what if I had bought that block of land instead of hesitating and finding out only about six months later there was a boom in land and house prices and it really would have been a great time to buy. What if I had been wiser with decisions I had made in my life? What if I hadn’t stepped away from God for such a long period of time? What if I had chosen differently? And on it goes. We can easily get caught up in the ‘what ifs’ of life that can lead to regret.
The biggest what if for me was, what if I HAD NOT made the decision to re-commit my life to God and to continue to walk with Him and know that He orders my steps, know that He has my back, know in my heart of hearts that this was, and still is the best decision I have ever made? It is really easy to live a life of regret, but the only regret that is worth being concerned about, is not taking the opportunity offered by our Lord.
The Lord reminds me about driving. Am I continually looking into the rear vision mirror, or am I focused on the road ahead? What a chaotic mess it would be if I continued to drive looking into the rear vision mirror. Such a great analogy. We need to remember that with God, looking ahead is the only option. Glancing behind so we don’t make the same mistakes is important for healing and growth, but keeping focused on what God has planned for us, keeping focused for the future whether it feels disheartening right now, or if there seems to be like we are in a hard place, difficult to get out of, this is when we can hold on to the word of God and know that He will never leave us or forsake us.
I would like to issue a challenge to all who are willing. If you are thinking about the what ifs of regret, how about seeing how that can be turned around to the what ifs of the future? Meditate on that and watch your mood elevate, and your love for God grow deeper as He becomes more of your focus.
Philippians 3:12-16
Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected, but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.
