Repent

"A Christian isn't a man who never goes wrong, but a man who is enabled to repent." 

-C.S. Lewis 

          I want to start this post by looking at the definition of repent.

Repent

1. 1. feel or express sincere regret or remorse about one's wrongdoing or sin.

   2. view or think of (an action or omission) with deep regret or remorse.

   3. feel regret or penitence about

   
   

             One thing that I have always thought was that I should never regret anything. I should live everyday being happy with my life and if I am filled with shame and regret there is no way that I can be a happy person.

             However, Acts 3:19 says, "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out." We can see that God tells us to repent and the definition of repent clearly says to feel regret in all three definitions above. So how can you repent your sins without regretting what you have done? You just can't. 

             Repentance is more than just regretting what you have done. You have to forgive yourself just like God has forgiven you. (Matthew 6:14) If you just keep living in that pain and regret, you will suffer and never be able to fully live a Godly life. 

             Think about regret as if it were sitting in a bathtub. The longer you soak in the water, the more wrinkly your skin will get. When you sit in regret, your life will be effected negatively. You can only take a short bath in regret just like a small dip in the pool. 

             Repent of your sins but don't keep regretting. Move on from it and leave it behind you. God cares a lot more about who we are and who we will become, not so much about where we have been.