Prayer Journal

Tuesday, December 2, 2003

All of us have regret. In fact, I imagine the phrase "if only" is the most frequently used two-word phrase in the human vocabulary. I wonder if God gets frustrated with us - his people? He destroyed most of the world's inhabitants out of regret for making man, but what about now? Even though we're called by his name, we, his children, must frustrate him almost beyond toleration. I wonder what he could do with people totally surrendered to his will and committed to obey Him above all else?

It's been said the person who fails to remember and profit from his past mistakes is doomed to repeat them. I believe it was Dave Ramsey, a popular Christian Financial Counselor who said, "My mistakes have dollar signs in front of them and a lot of zeroes behind them." Me too!

Financial indiscretion is, without question, bad and is responsible for a lot of consequences that have destroyed businesses, individuals, marriages and families. However, it's not the worst kind of mistake a person can make. The Psalmist tells us that all too often God's people don't listen to his or any other instruction; neither do they submit to His leadership. They seemingly refuse to learn from their mistakes and become unteachable and thereby worthless. In verses 14 through 16, we hear God pondering the question: "Imagine what I could have done for you if only..." (paraphrase)

"IF ONLY" - without a doubt, this two-word phrase is the saddest in the English language. Because of it, countless people will take their own lives in frustration, men will become hardened and millions will wait too late to agree with God about their sinfulful condition. They will live out their short existence and die alone, to then be eternally separated from God and tormented forever because of one BIG mistake.

Are your mistakes piling up? Do you have a teachable spirit? Here's what I mean: When you fail (and you will), do you take special care to avoid making the same mistake again? Do you listen to wise counsel, or are you hardheaded and obstinate? Albert Einstein said "There is nothing that is a more sure sign on insanity than to do the same thing over and over and expect the results to be different." Are you, by Einstein's definition insane? You don't have to be; you can try being obedient, which begins with listening to God.

Hmmm... I wonder what God could do through you IF you were obedient today?

Just Thinkin'... WebServant

Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society

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I'll pray today for...
* My spouse
* My children
* Their friends
* My friends
* My employer
* My city
* My country
* Civic leaders
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* The sick
* The lost
* Those in despair
* The hospitalized
* The grieving
* Widows
* Orphans

* My church
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* Persecuted church
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* Myself