“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV)
How many times have we looked back at some of our decisions in life that shaped are destiny? Didn’t we ask ourselves the question, “Why didn’t I?” Or have you ever thought about how you could have avoided some really rough consequences because you really knew better in the first place, and you posed the same question, “Why didn’t I?” Most of us could have had bigger savings accounts or at least something in a savings account, or at least some kind of investment that would have painted a better financial picture for the days ahead, but again we must ask the same question, “Why didn’t I?” We lived for the day, one at a time, and lost sight of future days. We should have done the latter, so we find ourselves asking, “Why didn’t I?”
We could have been the first to say, “I’m sorry?” We could have saved a relationship by quickly reconciling instead of refusing to take the initiative to make things right. We could have experienced life more abundantly earlier if we had really meant it when we said, “First giving honor to God who is the Head of my life.” And here, once again, we ask the question, “Why didn’t I?”
I’m sure we have all turned left when we should have turned right. I’m positive that we have all, because of our choices or lack of trust in God for a moment, we had more than one sleepless night. We all have skeletons, at least one, in our closets of life; secrets and suppressed things that we wrongly thought would bring a delight or close to divine. Who hasn’t surrendered to some temptation of one type or the other instead of remembering our vow, “I surrender all” and taking the way out. You know we should have showed an outpouring of gratitude on many occasions, but all we did was pout. We ask ourselves, “Why didn’t I?” We all do that, but should we?
Let us not dwell on the past and destroy our happy demeanor. Let’s not permit the things from long ago to ruin our upbeat spirits. Instead of focusing on “Why didn’t I?” today, let us focus on “Why don’t I? this Monday. Why don’t I lean not on my own understanding, but in all my ways acknowledge Him, knowing He will direct my path? Why don’t I pick up my cross, go beyond my comfort zone going forward, and follow Christ? Why don’t I look forward to a brighter day ahead? Why don’t I proceed with great anticipation, knowing that all things work together for good for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose. Why don’t I make a pledge to stop letting, “Why didn’t I?” burden me down and cloud up my day. Let’s commit to making better decisions today, wiser choices throughout our awakened hours, and realize that we can choose to do better in choosing options, climbing upward, or coming to a halt, or canceling my role as the salt of the earth! We can do it because our eyes our own Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. Press forward and upward my friend! Ask yourself, “Why don’t I?” Be blessed!
“I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.” (Philippians 3:12-14 MSG)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King