“If we confess our sins, He is
faithful and just and will forgive us our sins.”
1 John 1:9
Have you ever experienced waking up
one morning and asking yourself, “How have I gotten myself into this mess?” The
realization that you are in the wrong place hits you like a ton of bricks. Now
you ask, “Is there a way out at all?”
Jesus told a young man who wanted his
inheritance early (Luke 15:11). He set off for a distant country and there
squandered his wealth in wild living. Eventually, tough times faced him, and
one day he woke up realizing that he had made a mess of his life.
These guidelines can help straighten
out your thinking and your life.
One: Evaluate where you are. The
young man did just that. “He came to his senses” is how Jesus put it.
Two: Bury your pride. It takes
humility to do this, but it’s necessary. The young man asked himself, “How many
of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!”
Three: Formulates a plan. A trusted
friend can tell you the truth without flattery of the intent to hurt you. The
young man said, “I will set out and go back to my father.”
Four: Admit your failure. This
requires humility. “Father”, confessed the young man, “I have sinned against
heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”
Five: Follow through. This requires
action. “So he got up and went to his father,” is the way Jesus described this
important step.
Six: Make restitution as necessary.
If people refuse to forgive you, that is their problem. Not yours. You have
done the right thing in admitting failure and doing something about it. The
result is restoration and peace in your life.
No comments:
Post a Comment