One of my favorite songs is “How He Loves Us” – written by John Mark McMillan. The song was born out of a response to tragedy in John Mark’s life, but I find it very effective in getting me to that place of worship when I’m willing to be still and quiet.
In the song, there’s a line that hits me in the gut each and every time…
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way…
In the time it takes for me to hear these words all of the mistakes I have made and am making come to mind while the cleansing blood of my savior washes over me leaving me clean and forgiven. I marvel each time and can’t get enough.
The truth is – regrets get you moving in the wrong direction…away from God. Regret’s close cousin, shame, is right there to ensure that you stay there. But the Truth is that in Christ, regrets and shame are vaporized by grace and mercy. Regret and shame are tools used to keep us (and others for those of you that use these to “motivate” people) from living.
John Mark reminds us that life is too short to have regrets and allow shame to rule us and we must drink deeply of His love, stand from the dust and move forward again. What a miracle…thanks John Mark McMillan.