WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
AUGUST 25, 2024
TOPIC: DON’T PROGRAMME YOURSELF FOR FUTURE REGRETS (1)
BY T. O. BANSO
“Sensible people will see trouble coming and avoid it, but an unthinking person will walk right into it and regret it later” (Proverbs 22:3 Good News Translation).
In life, we all face disappointments occasionally when our expectations are not met. We plan, execute it, do our best, and think things will turn out well, but the outcomes may be unfavourable due to unforeseen circumstances. But my focus in today’s devotional is not this type of situation, but when people foolishly make decisions that sometimes others know will result in regrets and may even warn them, This is what I describe as programming oneself for regrets. I am not referring to regrets over what one cannot control or avoid.
Some people today will say they are living a good life but any wise person will know that they will sooner or later face the consequences of their foolish choices. Disappointment is waiting for them and they will regret their bad decisions. Their fruits of regret will be ripe for harvest. Hosea 8:7 says, “They have planted the wind and will harvest the whirlwind” (New Living Translation). Whatever you sow, that’s what you’ll reap (Galatians 6:7).
The Book of Proverbs talks much about wisdom and its importance in living a meaningful life. In Proverbs 1:20-33, wisdom, personified as a woman, says those who failed to listen to his persistent cry will later cry for help but would not find her. They will reap the consequences of their folly. Wisdom says, “But since you refuse to listen when I call and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand, since you disregard all my advice and do not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you; I will mock when calamity overtakes you—when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you” (Proverbs 1:24-27 New International Version).
Proverbs 4:7 says wisdom is the principal thing and adds that we should get wisdom, and in all our getting, get understanding. Unfortunately, not many people respond to the cry of wisdom. Not many people love wisdom, and they eventually live mostly in regret. But any wise person would have known that they would regret the outcomes of their choices, having activated the process.
Some ways people programme themselves for future regrets
1. They live in denial of what will create a problem tomorrow. Wise people don’t deny what will create a problem tomorrow; they deal with it or avoid it. Proverbs 22:3 says, “Sensible people will see trouble coming and avoid it, but an unthinking person will walk right into it and regret it later” (Good News Translation). Proverbs 27:12 says a similar thing. Note the phrase “and regret it later.” Don’t live in denial of what will create a problem tomorrow and lead to regret.
2. They downplay or rationalize the danger posed by a problem today. They have an “it-is-not-a-big-deal-attitude.” But the problem continues to grow in proportion and its danger increases.
3. They have false hope and comfort. They could give themselves false hope and comfort that the problem will disappear over time. They assure themselves that a problem will resolve itself with time, but it persists. They believe that time heals all wounds. But time does not heal all wounds. Some may say that those they want to marry, who are already being unfaithful or abusing them, will change with time. Therefore, they will go ahead with the marriage plans. But some have done that but their spouses didn’t change after marriage. Nobody can fix another person. If you can’t fix the person now, there’s no guarantee you’ll ever be able to fix him later.
Some people want to take a loan but have no repayment plan. They are assuring their creditors they will pay back because they are hopeful! How? Any time you set in the future to do something will eventually arrive! Those with no serious plans will then come under pressure and start regretting. There is a time for everything on earth (Ecclesiastes 3:1). What is worth doing today should not be put off till tomorrow. Avoid procrastination. Tomorrow will soon become today.
How not to programme yourself for future regrets
1. Always make the right choices based on the Word of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God always agrees with the Word of God. No matter how painful the decision may be, it’s wise to make it, otherwise, the price you fail to pay today could be much higher tomorrow. The ‘wisdom’ of today will turn to foolishness tomorrow. Pay the price now.
In Joshua 24:15, Joshua challenged the Israelites that if it seemed evil to them to serve the LORD they should choose whom they would serve – the gods their fathers served on the other side of the River or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land they were living. But he said that he and his house would serve the LORD. Have you chosen to serve the Living God? Are your choices godly? “For what our human nature wants is opposed to what the Spirit wants, and what the Spirit wants is opposed to what our human nature wants. These two are enemies, and this means that you cannot do what you want to do” (Galatians 5:17 Good News Translation).
In 1 Chronicles 21:11-13 and 2 Samuel 24:11-14, David had a decision to make. The three options before him were a punishment from God for his folly in conducting a census of the Israelites after the devil had moved him. But David acted wisely by making the right choice – he chose to fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are very great, rather than fall into the hand of man. From Dan to Beersheba, seventy thousand people died from the plague God sent as punishment (2 Samuel 24:15).
Let the Word of God and the Holy Spirit guide you to make the right choices. Don’t forsake the fountain of living water or dig for yourself cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all (Jeremiah 2:13). The quality of your life tomorrow will be determined greatly by the choices you make today. Your choices today largely determine your tomorrow. “I pray that your love will keep on growing and’ that you will fully know and understand how to make the right choices. Then you will still be pure and innocent when Christ returns” (Philippians 1:9-10a Contemporary English Version).
2. Trust in the Lord always. The best among human beings is still human! Even with the best intentions, a human being can still disappoint you. Factors beyond his control can limit him. Don’t replace trust in God with trust in human beings. Whoever does so programmes himself for regrets. Trust is a necessity in human relationships. You may trust people but put your trust in God only. Don’t let others replace God in your life, no matter how much they love you, their generosity, etc. Human beings change; nobody is as reliable or dependable as God. “Trust the LORD always, because the LORD, the LORD alone, is an everlasting rock” (Isaiah 26:4 GOD’S WORD Translation).
Jeremiah 17:5-6 says, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord. That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives” (New International Version).
In contrast to the one who trusts in man, verses 7-8 say, “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
The writer of Psalm 40 says, “Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods” (verse 4 New International Version). Don’t trust in horses or chariots (Psalm 20:7). It will only lead to disappointment in future even if it appears to be working now. You will regret your decision later. Only those who put their trust in the Lord are never disappointed. Those who cry to Him will be delivered; those who trust in Him shall not be ashamed, disgraced, or disappointed (Psalm 22:5). If you believe in God, you won’t be put to shame or disappointed (Romans 9:33b; 1 Peter 2:6b). Do as the Bible says: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know. Remember the Lord in everything you do, and he will show you the right way” (Proverbs 3:5-6 Good News Translation).
I will stop here and conclude this topic tomorrow. Don’t programme yourself for future regrets.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. Take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You must join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Holy Spirit, help me make decisions that will not lead to regrets later. I shall not programme myself for regrets through bad choices and actions. I shall make the right decisions and take the right actions in Jesus’ name.
(For over 900 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org
