"Voice of Regret"

The flashback of a letter,

Brought back my old regret,

Though I do know better,

That old pain rose up yet.

Like an accusing finger,

To remind me what I did,

Memories that linger,

Recalled and hard to rid.

What if and if only,

Sang their sad song to me,

Back when I was lonely,

And never could be free.

And then I heard the whisper,

But look what you have now,

The Spirit like a river,

Floods my mind somehow.

A place in Texas’ heartland,

With someone who loves me,

Is where I’ve taken my stand,

Where God chose us to be.

The beauty of the equine,

The eagle soaring high,

The longhorn spotted bovine,

And whitetail on the sly.

The geese a-honkin’ overhead,

The grass we planted green,

The blazing sunset gold and red,

The best you’ve ever seen.

A way to work and serve the Lord,

A mission to live out,

The Spirit here to wield His sword,

And say what life’s about.

He says you are forgiven,

There’s no more guilt to bear,

And daily grace for livin’,

To relieve every care.

No hope for better history,

We cannot get it back,

But God’s plan and destiny,

And nothing that we lack.

So listen to the witness,

Of the Spirit’s steady voice,

God’s grace gives us fitness,

In that we can rejoice.

“As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:12, NIV)

God has compassion on us and provides forgiveness or every transgression. It is only when we fully accept God’s forgiveness that we can learn to forgive ourselves. Why should we hold onto something that God has removed so far from us? And indeed He has! Some are afraid that if we don’t continue to bear guilt we are somehow trivializing the seriousness of our forgiveness. But what we are really doing is limiting the effect of the atoning work of Jesus in our behalf. Don’t listen to the voice of regret.

Lord, help us celebrate forgiveness, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Alfredo Rodgriguez, alfredoartist.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Alfredo, and God bless you.