How to Recover from Bad Choices

(Hebrews 12:1) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

For when you’ve made bad choices...

“God always gives you a

 second chance.”

(Jonah 1:1-5) The word of the LORD came to Jonah: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” 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... Then the LORD sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. 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.

Every decision we make cost us something.   Every wrong decision impacts others.  Are your decisions bringing you closer to God?

  

How to Recover from Bad Choices

1. Take responsibility for your bad choice.

The first step to getting to the right place is to take responsibility.

(Jonah 1:12) (Jonah said to the sailors)  “Pick me up and throw me into the sea,” he replied, “and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.”

God is waiting at our point of crisis to rescue us. 

(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.

2. Repent and turn away from the bad choice you made.

Repentance means you change your mind so deeply that it changes you.

(Jonah 2:9) (Jonah then said) “...What I have vowed I will make good...”

(Acts 3:19) Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.

You're not a failure until you start blaming others for our mistakes.

3.Embrace God’s grace.

We serve the God of a second chance.

(Jonah 3:1) Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time...

(Hebrews 4:16) 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) Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Don’t let bad choices disqualify you.

God's calling on your life is true.  You may disobey and run, but it does not change God's calling on your life.  

(Romans 8:28) And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Tom Mullins, Guest Speaking at Church of the Highlands

https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/message/jonah 

All scripture is from the New International Version unless otherwise noted.

How to Safeguard Against Making Bad Choices

1. Use God's Word to guide you.

(Psalm 119:105) Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

Micah 6:8 

 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly with your God.

It will always guide you to God's best.  

2. Ask the Holy Spirit 

for wisdom.

The voice of the Holy Spirit will not conflict with God's Word. 

(John 16:13) But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.

Are my choices God-honoring?

How will this affect my spiritual health?

How will this decision affect the people closest to me?

3. Seek Godly counsel.

(Proverbs 13:20) He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffer harm.

The will of God will never lead you where the grace of God can't keep you. 

Tom Mullins, guest speaking at Church of the Highlands

https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/message/jonah

All scripture is from the New International Version unless otherwise noted.

The Path of Life

  

We are  to live by principle not pressure.

Mark 5:21-42  (NLT)

21 Jesus got into the boat again and went back to the other side of the lake, where a large crowd gathered around him on the shore. 

22 Then a leader of the local synagogue, whose name was Jairus, arrived. When he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet, 

23 pleading fervently with him. “My little daughter is dying,” he said. “Please come and lay your hands on her; heal her so she can live.”

Jesus will never turn away from a desperate cry.

24 Jesus went with him, and all the people followed, crowding around him. 

25 A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding. 

26 She had suffered a great deal from many doctors, and over the years she had spent everything she had to pay them, but she had gotten no better. In fact, she had gotten worse. 

27 She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him through the crowd and touched his robe. 

28 For she thought to herself, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.” 

29 Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel in her body that she had been healed of her terrible condition.

30 Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from him, so he turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my robe?”

31 His disciples said to him, “Look at this crowd pressing around you. How can you ask, ‘Who touched me?’”

32 But he kept on looking around to see who had done it. 

33 Then the frightened woman, trembling at the realization of what had happened to her, came and fell to her knees in front of him and told him what she had done. 3

4 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over.”

35 While he was still speaking to her, messengers arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. They told him, “Your daughter is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now.”

36 But Jesus overheard them and said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.”

Jesus does not forget about you in the mass of humanity.    

37 Then Jesus stopped the crowd and wouldn’t let anyone go with him except Peter, James, and John (the brother of James). 

38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw much commotion and weeping and wailing. 

Jesus sees our situation from His heavenly perspective and reaches out His hands to help.  

39 He went inside and asked, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.”

40 The crowd laughed at him. But he made them all leave, and he took the girl’s father and mother and his three disciples into the room where the girl was lying. 

41 Holding her hand, he said to her, “Talitha koum,”which means “Little girl, get up!” 

42 And the girl, who was twelve years old, immediately stood up and walked around! They were overwhelmed and totally amazed.

1. We must be desperate to get to Jesus.

Jeremiah 29:13  (NLT)

13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.

James 5:16 B  (NLT)

The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

You don't really know Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have.  Tim Keller.

2. We must be committed to staying with Jesus. 

Psalm 89:15 (NLT)

15 Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship,
    for they will walk in the light of your presence, Lord.

Mark 5:36  (NLT)

36 But Jesus overheard them and said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.

Romans 8:28 (NLT)

28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

Sometimes when it seems like everything is falling apart, things are actually falling into place. Todd Mullins.

3. We must welcome Jesus in our homes.

Revelation 3:20 (NLT)

20 “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.

Joshua 24:15 A, C (NLT)

15 But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”

Transformation starts in the home.  What do we need to kick out, so Jesus feels welcomed?  We must kick out our disbelief. 

Colossians 2:8 (NLT)

8 Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. 

2 Corinthians 10:5 (NLT)

5 We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.

Feed your faith and your disbelief will starve to death.

4. Allow Jesus to speak life over your home.

Change your words, change your life.  Joyce Meyer.

Proverbs 18:21 (NLT)

21 The tongue can bring death or life;
    those who love to talk will reap the consequences.

Psalm 141:3 (NLT)

3 Take control of what I say, O Lord,
    and guard my lips.

Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless. Mother Teresa.

Think the best.  Be the best. Do the best for others. 

No matter how old or how challenging your circumstances are.  You can always start new in Jesus.

Tom Mullins, Church of the Highlands

https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/message/the-path-to-life