One of my favorite commercials is the old Geico commercial where a man is holding a cup of coffee, turns to look at his watch and spills the entire cup of hot coffee all down his nice suit. The spot ends with a voice-over stating the blunt truth, “We all do dumb things.”
I probably think it’s so funny because I relate to it so often! I can’t speak for you, but I know that I have done some pretty dumb things throughout my life. In those moments, I would’ve loved a do-over.
The cool thing about God is that in those times of frustration or regret, He never wants us to feel overwhelmed by judgment; He wants us to be overwhelmed with the love of Jesus. Because Jesus died on the cross for our sins, even the worst of sin can be covered by His grace. Giving us the chance to do it over, even better.
However, there is a catch. Transformation doesn’t occur by chance but by choice. It’s why after extending grace to the woman at the well in Samaria He said, “Go and sin no more.”
Maybe you struggle with seeking approval from the wrong people, maybe you have a hard time responding to authority, or maybe you are stingy. Not matter what our struggles are, we all have to embrace the fact that our thoughts and choices have to change before our life begins to do the same.
How we think determines how we feel. How we feel determines how we act. And how we act determines the atmosphere we live in.
I have a friend who is extremely smart and capable. So it surprised me when one day he complained to me that he had never gotten promoted at work. But the more I spent time with him, the more the mystery surrounding his situation disappeared.
My friend gossiped. He thought he was right all of the time. He was negative. So, as a good friend would, I talked to him about these issues. He listened, worked hard on them, and was promoted soon after. That’s what happens when we change from the inside out!
When we let God’s love guide our life and open the door to his process for change, four things happen as a result. First, honor is created in our hearts. We see that God’s ways are higher and we stop at no cost to follow them.
Secondly, our lives become more joyful. Who doesn’t want a happier life?! Third, we can’t help but celebrate progress because we see God beginning to bless us as He promised He would. Then finally, the curse is reversed in our lives, and we are forever changed from the inside out.
See, the great thing about God’s do-overs is that they last. They aren’t quick-fixes, but they’re a solid change from within that truly transforms both our lives and our legacies. So let’s allow God’s love lead our lives. It truly is the best guide!
