How To Live With No Regrets

"I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do." — John 17:4, ESV

How great would life be if we didn't have to deal with regrets? Oh my goodness, freedom would be truly experienced.  And while I can't change my past, I can impact the present and the future.  I cannot control anything—me having any control is a fallacy and facade.  However, I can, by his grace and strength, live in obedience to God (read 2 Peter 1:3-11), accomplishing what he has called me to do (and with that calling comes his empowering).

In John 17, as Jesus is praying this prayer, he is about to be betrayed to go to the cross.  He knows that this is the ultimate act of obedience—the key reason why he came.  And still he was able to proclaim to the Father that he had accomplished everything that he wanted him to do.  EVERYTHING! What a fulfilled life.  What a great way to end a life.

Here's my question to you: how are you doing on that life that God has called you to live? Are you living it in such a way that you feel "confident" that you will be able to say the exact same thing as Jesus did? Some may disagree with me and say that this is not possible.  You may say that there is just way too much to do.  Let me remind you of this:  "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10, ESV). God has prepared the good works that he has for us to accomplish.  If you never get anything done, maybe it's because you're not doing the things you're truly supposed to be doing.

There are a lists of things that we can do and be involved in, but here's the thing: are those the things that you and I are confident Jesus has called us to do? Just because something seems "right" does not mean that it is something that I am supposed to do.  Just because something seems tough doesn't automatically mean that I'm not supposed to do it.  I must humbly walk with Jesus every day (Micah 6:8) and listen to what he calls me to do, and get it done.

I long to be able to look back on my life one day and say the exact same words that Jesus said to the Father.  Of course I have regrets over things that I have already done or failed to do.  Those I can't change.  However, I sure do desire to live from this day forward with that goal in mind.