No Regrets

In 2013, Live Your Life With No Regrets

The words of Apostle Paul in Philippians 3:13 which says “No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead” is the empowerment women need to live a life without regret.

You probably went through a lot in 2012, but January 2013 is here, so it’s time to arise and rebuild yourself. Below are six easy steps to doing just that.

#1 Refuse to carry the burden of guilt

A New Year is not the time to throw a pity party and feel sorry for yourself. Inviting heaviness, mood swings, sadness etc is not the way to go through year 2013. The effect of guilt on David is recorded in Psalm 38:4 as “My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear.” Whatever might have happened, you must only take responsibility for your part, accept your mistake, pray for forgiveness and move on.

If you don’t break free from the guilt cycle, you run the risk of apologising and offering explanations for every action you take or decision you make, losing your self confidence, becoming weak and opening the door for unclean spirits to have a free entry into your life.

Always remember that God won’t hold it against you because, ”Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.” (Psalm 32:1). Also, you shouldn’t hold it against yourself, because that is self punishment and you must never hold it against others, because that is holding onto a grudge.

#2 Make the right friends

I never celebrated friendship until the right friends came into my life, and I opened up my heart to receive them. Since then, for me there has been no looking back.

With friends like the one the man on the mat (Mark 2:1-5) had, the right friends can be burden bearers, help you to break through your obstacles, help you arise out of difficult times, believe in you (even if you doubt yourself) and be courageous enough to bring you face to face with the truth about yourself.

We meet several people in life, but friends prayerfully requested and selected by the Holy Spirit usually form a support system and help you become heavens desire.

#3 In everything give thanks

There will always be high and low moments, laughter and tears, ups and downs. Since life is not for the faint hearted, remember that in 1 Samuel 30:6, “David encouraged himself in the Lord.”

All through 2013, if you adopt the attitude of personal thanksgiving, the end result is strength, courage and the manifold presence of God.

So long as you are still breathing, obey God’s command in Psalm 150:6 “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.”

#4 Have hope and believe in the future

When the recession hit, many people lost faith in the economy, politicians, the government etc. Redundancies and companies shutting down meant more people earned less, lost their security and ended up depressed. Well, the New Year means here comes another twelve months for things to work out. So, with the help of the Holy Spirit cast off fears, anxieties, worries and doubts.

No one should live a life filled with bitterness and regret. Psalm 94:14 says, “When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.” Hope is the ability to hear the melody of the future, and faith is the power to dance to it today.

Always remember that your outlook will determine the course of your life, so renew your mind and rediscover the joy of living in the present.

#5 Look good and feel good

One of the Christian women in business I know who runs a beauty studio, Titi St.John Ogunsanwo tells me that for today’s Christian woman to strike a balance between Godliness and worldliness, “Modesty is the word.”

Regarding her hair, “She doesn’t have to over-do things, but it must be well taken care of and frequently maintained.” When it comes to the nails, “they must be kept clean, neat and tidy.” Dictated by her skin type, the face “must be taken care of with necessary things like, face wash, cleanser, powder (white or brown) – loose or foundation.”

Believing that “being Christian does not mean we should not be fashionable”, today’s Christian woman “should wear comfortable, lovely and neat clothes that suits her and not be led by what others are wearing.”

#6 You’ve got a life to live and a destiny to fulfill

In the physical world, I am always inspired by the words of the late Apple CEO, Steve Jobs which says, “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

In 2013, go all out to discover and fulfill your God given destiny. From the Christian’s road map to life which is the bible, move with the following destiny scriptures in the New Year.

Proverbs 12:24, “The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labour.” 1 Corinthians 15:10, “But by God’s grace I am what I am, and his grace shown to me was not wasted.” Job 23:14, “So he will do for me all he has planned. He controls my destiny.” Psalm 73:24, “You will keep on guiding me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny.”Ecc 6:10, “Everything has already been decided. It was known long ago what each person would be. So there’s no use arguing with God about your destiny.” Philippians 3:3 “We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort”.”

Below is a collection of inspirational quotes on living life without regret. Be empowered, and take charge.

“When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.”
–Alexander Graham Bell

“Many of us crucify ourselves between two thieves – regret for the past and fear of the future.”
–Fulton Oursler

“Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future.”
–Oscar Wilde

“We must be willing to get rid of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us. The old skin has to be shed before the new one can come.”
–Joseph Campbell

“Do not brood over your past mistakes and failures as this will only fill your mind with grief, regret and depression. Do not repeat them in the future.”
–Sivananda

Prayers for a Fresh Start

§  Power to arise and begin again, overshadow my life in Jesus name.

§  Oh heavens, release what my life needs in Jesus name.

§  The finger of God, promote me in Jesus name.

§  My divine dreams, come to pass in Jesus name.

§  Holy Spirit, link me with those who will bless me in Jesus name.

§  The glory of God, enter into my life in Jesus name.

§  Power of God, move me forward in life in Jesus name.

§  Holy Spirit, increase my speed and my efforts in Jesus name.

§  The influence of darkness over my life, encounter the light of God in Jesus name.

§  Blood of Jesus, usher me into a new phase in Jesus