Listen to me, O Jacob, Israel, whom I have called: I am he; I am the first and I am the last. This is what the LORD says--your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea. (Isaiah 48:12, 17-18, NIV).
As much as I despise public transportation, I had to take a shuttle to a weekly committee meeting. I have been a member of the Pity Committee for years. The committee meetings are time-consuming, but today's meeting should be brief because we're voting on the theme for our monthly Pity Party.
After a 30-minute brainstorming session, the committee votes on the Pity Party theme--Regrets of the Past. Again, the Pity Committee Chair designates me as the Pity Party Host. It is now my responsibility to ensure that each party guest has a great time celebrating past regrets.
- I regret not speaking up for myself.
- I regret not taking my music lessons seriously.
- I regret not taking my foreign language lessons seriously.
- I regret not having the courage to tell my first therapist what was really bothering me.
- I regret not achieving my academic goals.
- I regret not taking care of my mental, physical and spiritual health.
- I regret being involved in noxious relationships.
- I regret chasing pipe dreams--it was a waste of time and resources.
- I regret not realizing my full potential until now.
If only I had paid attention to God's exhortations, I would possess river-like peace. (Isaiah 48:18, NIV).
Dear God:
I am tired of hosting pity parties! The party atmosphere is dismal. Really, how much fun am I supposed to have celebrating past regrets?
Concentration on past regrets creates a sense of hopelessness and causes me to feel inadequate. My state of mind gets so depressed that I almost convince myself that I am a failure. What happened in my past that caused me to feel so unhappy? What happened in my past that caused me to feel so afraid? Lord, if I paid attention to Your instructions years ago, would I be in this disappointed state? What's at the core of this self-pity?
You have my full attention, Lord! I have decided that I want to evaluate myself. I am very familiar with the inventory of my past and I know I need to make some changes for improvement.
You have my full attention, Lord! Help me carefully examine my past. Expose my hurts and teach me how to get better. Reveal my God-given talents and help me stop comparing myself to others. Unmask my wicked associates and assist me in discovering God-fearing friends. Train my thought-life to "demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of" You; train me to "take captive every thought to make it obedient to" Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5, NIV).
You have my full attention, Lord! Heal me and give me a testimony to publicize Your magnificence.
Life is challenging because focusing on past regrets can lead to wallowing in self-pity. Life is good because I do not have to feel sorry for myself. I can choose to improve. I can choose to do as Christ commands: "Pick up your mat and walk!" (John 5:8, CEV). Life is abundant because I can aspire to forget "what lies behind and" strain "forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward." (Philippians 3:13-14, AMP).
You have my full attention, Lord! I'm ready to depart from misery. I'm ready to depart from rage. I'm ready to depart from timidity. I'm ready to depart from bitterness. I'm ready to depart from trauma. I'm ready to depart from worry.
I am ready to board the
Self-Improvement Shuttle!
Lord, I am fully aware that Self-Improvement is a P-R-O-C-E-S-S. I know this journey will last a lifetime and I may have to revisit some destinations. Reassure me that I'm well-equipped to go through this process.
Direct me in the way I should go. (Isaiah 48:17, NIV). Lead me to the next stop on this Self-Improvement route. Reassure me that I will eventually reach the final destination of win.
I intercede for those who hesitate boarding the Self-Improvement Shuttle--Holy Spirit, please persuade them to take the liberating ride.
Sovereign God, thank you for being my Teacher. I extol You for being my Master. Thank you for providing me a traveling companion in Jesus Christ. In His name, I pray...AMEN.
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me--watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." (Matthew 11:28-30, MSG).
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