Hebrews 12:1 NLT Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.
For when you’ve made bad choices…
“God always gives you a second chance.”
Jonah 1:1-5 NIV The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: (2) “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” (3) But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD. (4) Then the LORD sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. (5) All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship. But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep.
How to Recover from Bad Choices
- Take responsibility for your bad choice.
Jonah 1:12 NLT “Throw me into the sea,” Jonah said, “and it will become calm again. I know that this terrible storm is all my fault.”
Coach John Wooden – “You are not a failure until you start blaming others for your mistakes!”
Proverbs 28:13 LB A man who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful. But if he confesses and forsakes them, he gets another chance.
- Repent and turn away from the bad choice you made.
To repent (Greek: “metanoeo”) To change your thinking
Jonah repents and decides to obey what God told him to do.
Jonah 2:9 NIV “…What I have vowed I will make good…”
Acts 3:19 NIV Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,
- Embrace God’s grace.
Jonah 3:1 NIV Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time…
John Maxwell – “Grace always runs downhill; it met me at the bottom, not at the top.”
Hebrews 4:16 NIV Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
✓ Don’t let bad choices define you.
Romans 8:1 NLT So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.
✓ Don’t let bad choices disqualify you.
Psalms 30:1-3 MSG I give you all the credit, GOD– you got me out of that mess, you didn’t let my foes gloat. (2) GOD, my God, I yelled for help and you put me together. (3) GOD, you pulled me out of the grave, gave me another chance at life when I was down-and-out.
God does not call the qualified. He qualifies the called.
How to Safeguard Against Making Bad Choices
- Use God’s Word to guide you.
Psalms 119:105 TLB Your words are a flashlight to light the path ahead of me and keep me from stumbling.
- Ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom.
John 16:13 AMP But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth)…
The Bible gives us information – the Holy Spirit gives us revelation.
- Are my choices God-honoring?
- How will this affect my spiritual health?
- How will this decision affect the people closest to me?
- Seek Godly counsel.
Proverbs 15:22 NLT Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success.
Proverbs 13:20 NLT Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.