How many times can you admit to saying, “I wish I hadn’t done that.” or, “I wish I hadn’t said that.”? I could not count the times I’ve muttered those words.
There I was, sitting there afterwards. Guilty of doing something dumb or offensive or sinful. KNOWING FULL WELL what I did was wrong or neglectful or spiteful or vengeful or hurtful to another. Yes, the Holy Spirit convicted me before I acted. He told me what I was about to do was wrong. Knowing there would be repercussions for me, or hurt for someone else. AND I DID IT, OR SAID IT, ANYWAY!
Why do we do that? Why, when we know full well what we’re contemplating doing or saying is sinful, do we do it anyway?
Then after its over, whatever it was, I get pelted with guilt and shame and regret. Satan has a field day chastising me, telling me I’m not worthy and God’s not going to be happy with me.
Then, at times, I repent and tell God I’ll never do it again, knowing that I probably will.
It’s at that point I have to make a choice. I can help Satan beat up on me and guilt me into a dark place I don’t want to go. Or, I can confess my sin to God, whatever it was, and agree with Him that my sins tarnish the intimacy I have with Him. Then remind myself that God already forgave me that sin on the cross of Christ. Remind myself that I am forgiven and accepted fully as a precious child of the King. Realize that in and of myself I can not stop the sinning on my own. God is the only one who can remove sin from me as I surrender to Him and His sanctification process.
For His Glory 
I actually have the OPPOSITE problem – I often have regret that I DIDN’T say something I should have. To help someone – when I hold my tongue because I think it’s not my business – or to help myself, when it’s time to stand my ground and not allow someone to lie to me or walk on me. Satan is a master manipulator in so many ways. Thank you for sharing!
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So true, so true. I am not happy about the sin but I am happy the Holy Spirit convicts me of it. As I have gotten older that conviction stops me. Not always but often when I have a moment to think before acting. Without the Holy Spirit, well I certainly don’t want to go there.
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Thank you for your thoughts. That’s a place I find myself more often than I’d care to admit. But there’s no better place to be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Great thought. Thank you for your comments.
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Amen. Good word!
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Thanks, as always, my friend. God bless.
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Excellent post, Steven! I have given up telling God that I won’t do something again and simply started asking Him for the wisdom and strength to avoid the same mistakes. Of course, there are always NEW mistakes to be found…
Have a blessed day!
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Thank you, Tanya, for our encouraging words. Yes, me too.
Those new mistakes keep cropping up, and some of the old ones don’t go so easily either. God bles.
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