What to Do Once You Have Messed Up

Students,
Below is something I want you to read. It is from a college student that attends Refuge and is a part of our faith family. Think about what is being said and how you can apply this to your life. Read on...

So you screwed up in a big way. You didn’t wait. Didn’t let God control what was supposed to be a beautiful thing. And you’re wondering what to do now. How do you keep it from happening again? How do you live it out for Him and Him alone? How do you make Him the center of your life?

Repent
The first thing you need to do is ask God for forgiveness for what you have done. Repentance has the idea of turning away from the path you were on that caused you to sin. I John 1:9 says that if we confess our sins He will forgive us our sins. God holds nothing against us once we give it over to Him. Romans 8:1 says “Therefore there is now no condemnation to those that are in Christ Jesus.” We just have to ask for forgiveness and turn from the path we were on and start walking the path with God again.

Read
Actively read your Bible. Study it. Memorize verses that apply to the struggles you are having in your life. God has given us the very breath of life on paper and most people won’t take the time to open it. Open it and wear your Bible absolutely out. Underline stuff that you find particularly meaningful. Highlight verses that mean a lot to you. Write verses down on post it notes and put them around your house to remind you to live it out for Him.

Pray
Talk to God about your day. He loved you enough to send His only Son to die for you. Don’t you think He cares enough about you to listen to you and see how you are doing? There are two hundred billion billion stars in the sky. Isaiah says that God knows them all by name. Doesn’t it make sense that he would know your name as well? And even more so, knows your desires by name? Tell Him your hopes and fears. Take your concerns to Him. Take your desires to Him. Ask Him to create the appropriate desires in your life. Take your struggles to Him. He knows what you are going through and how best to get you out of the situation you are going through. Remember. He has been there before and He knows all the answers. Who better to ask for advice?

Be Mindful of Your Time
Get busy doing something for God. Get active in your church and your youth group. Don’t let yourself have idle time if you feel that you can’t control what you are going to do. Do something productive. Do something that would honor Him. Work for God. Attend church and small group meetings. Get plugged in and stick with it. Do something to help others. Go visit the sick. Rake leaves for a neighbor. Just do something to benefit others. Honor God with your time and you will honor Him with your life.

Set Limits in Your Relationship
Don’t give yourself the freedom to mess up again until you are absolutely certain it won’t keep happening. Don’t be alone. Don’t be together if you can’t trust yourself. Learn boundaries and stick to them. Don’t push the line, but stay well away from it. Remember. It’s there for a reason. Once it’s set, do not move it no matter how much you want to. The final reward of a marriage that honors God is so much better than a moment of passion.
She goes on to say, "None of these things are easy without God’s help. With God’s help and guidance and following these practical steps, you can do it. You can have a relationship that honors God.

I appreciate the opportunity to post her thoughts. There is a lot students, and us adults, need to learn about boundaries, regret, trust, and learning to embrace His love.
Thankful He's Still Changing Lives,
SB