Five Most Common Regrets in Life, 5

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

It is that time again folks. Happy New Years. This means that the old year is passing away, and the New Year is born. This is the time when many start to look into the future. They remember the past. They want to change things in their lives, so that this coming New Year will be better than the last. New Year Resolutions abound.

"I will quit Smoking." "I will give up junk food." "I will lose weight." "I will stop [this or that] type of destructive behavior." "I will let myself be happier." Wait, what was that last one? "I will let myself be happier."???? What?

Yes, with most NYRs, they last on the average about 30 days. One study shows that less than 20 percent actually stick. So why do people bother? Regrets. They regret the past year's behavior and want to change. What if we stopped talking about the New Year? What if instead of talking about the end of the past year, we were talking about end of life?

Someone sent this article to me. It's by Bronnie Ware. Bonnie is a Nurse. She has spend a lot of time talking with people that were on their "Death Bed." Talking with them, she found that, no matter the Race, Standings, Faith, or any other differences, there were five most common regrets. While thinking about your "New Year Resolutions," perhaps instead of giving up Chocolate, you may want to think about these.

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

Did you know that Happiness is a Choice? It is. So is being miserable. So is being arrogant. So is being sad. Your "mood" totally depends on you. Your choice. "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud. He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he." {Proverbs 16}

The Psalmist wrote "Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace."

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Psalm 37:

23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.

24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.

Paul tells us, if you really want to be happy? We should be "Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;" {Romans 12} Being happy is a choice. Some say, that we just do not understand what they are going through. We can't possible know. They have no reason to be happy. Their Wife left them, pickup truck feel apart, and their dog died... Sorry, slipped into a Country Song there for a second. But you get the point.

Sad truth is, most people live in little Bubbles. They look around at their circumstances and allow this to determine their moods. "How am I going to pay the bills. I just lost my Job. What now? Jesus tells us we should have no fear. We should have no worries. We merely need to remember who we are as Child of God. Jesus tells us, our Father knows what we have need of before we do. He tells us if we want full assurance, that all will be OK, and that our needs shall be met, we need not worry "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." {Matthew 6:33}

Will you lose your House? Maybe. Will your Car be repoed? Maybe. Will you lose your Job? Maybe. Does it really matter? If you come to a place where you realize, fully realize, that God is your Daddy, and you are His Child, and this same God is the one who created all things, you can be reassured that getting you transportation or a place to live is not beyond His powers.

Try thinking a Child of God way. Car breaks down, "Great, God is going to get me another one. This one has been nothing but a headache to me." Home in foreclosure? "Well, OK. God is going to get me a place I can actually afford. I may even meet some new people that God wants in my life. All the Praise and Glory be to Him." "I can't pay the TV and the Electric." Do you really need 150 channels when you only watch 4? Do you really need Cable at all? "I have a $200.00 monthly Phone Bill." Do you really need that?

Stop putting the conditions on your happiness on stuff. Stop allowing stuff to control you. Paul wrote.....

Philippians 4:

4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Ever have a negative experience, and find yourself playing it over and over again in your head? Like a Movie on the screen, you keep reliving the experience. Thinking, what if. What if I did this, or I should have done that. Would the outcome have been different???? WHO CARES!?!? It's over. It's past. It's a new day. Time to move on. Time to praise God. Thank Him for all the Blessings you do have. Time to thank Jesus for coming and suffering all He did for YOU. Time to thank the Holy Spirit for setting you free of this bondage of the Mind.

When Jesus gave the famous Sermon on the Mount, most translations use the word Blessed, or Blessed of God. Did you know you can actually translate the same word as Happy? Seriously. Jesus said...

Matthew 5:

3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Did you know you can actually interchange the word Blessed here with the word Happy? Try it.

Happy are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Happy are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Happy are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Happy are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Happy are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Happy are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Happy are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Happy are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Happy are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Happy is a choice. Sad is a choice. Why should we be happy? Because we ARE Blessed. "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." {Romans 8:15} God is our Daddy. We are His Children. Stop worrying about what is outside, and just start thinking about what is inside, and what it all means to be a Child of God.

Do not let not being Happy, be an end of life regret. Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray..

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." {Romans 10:9} You need to find a Church that God leads you to, and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A new Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." {Colossians 3:10}

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. {2 Corinthians 13}

The article by Bronnie Ware, first appeared on inspirationandchai.com via @ Real Farmacy