No Regrets?

“Forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us..” Matthew 6:12 ISV

“No Regrets.” I see this printed across T-shirts, car stickers, in ads. I am sure you have seen it also. I get that this means, “Don’t regret something you didn’t do.” Don’t miss out on adventures.

But can we really live life without regret? Should we be able to live life without regret? No, we have all done or said things we shouldn’t have. To have no regrets is equal to having no conscience. Without a conscience we cannot see a need to repent. Without repentance there is no salvation.

My greatest regret is having an abortion when I was a teenager. I didn’t want an abortion. I wanted my baby. I allowed myself to be pressured into having an abortion. I was not forced, but I was weak and did what people I loved thought was best.

Several years later I recommitted my life to Jesus. Although I knew I was forgiven, I could not forgive myself. I was caught in my own condemnation. One day as I was praying for forgiveness, I remembered what the Lord’s prayer said about forgiving others. I prayed and forgave the people who had pressured me to abort my baby. I prayed to forgive the people at the abortion clinic, especially the women who held my hand as I cried during the abortion. I suppose she thought she was supporting me, but she was the hardest one to forgive.

I felt the weight of my condemnation lift, and I was able to forgive myself. Romans 8:1 reminds us that there is no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus. I regret the abortion, but I am free of the weight of condemnation. I am so grateful to God for His forgiveness and salvation.

Jesus, thank You for your sacrifice for me. Thank You for forgiveness and salvation. Thank You for giving us a conscience so we can see that we need a savior. I love you. Amen.