Regret is a Monster To Our Faith

Greetings,

I want to share a recent decision I made concerning continuing or not continuing in the EDd Christian Leadership program in Christian Ministry in an email to my academic supervisor at Liberty University: 

Greetings, Professor Momeny,

Life experiences are about making decisions, big and small. Proverbs 3:5-6 is a reminder to Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. This scripture and others guided me as I made this decision. So, with a clear conscience, I have decided not to continue with this program and take the executive certificate of completion option. I have prayed about this decision and talked it over extensively with my daughter, and she made some valid and solid points that I had already shared with God while in prayer all week. I know this is God's will and that God will use this decision for my good and His glory. As I reflected on yesterday, success is not about reaching an expected end but rather what I have learned and how God will use those lessons to make me a more excellent Christian educator. I am really at peace on this decision. Thank you for taking the extra time with me on this journey. I appreciate your wisdom in the academic and spiritual advice you have shared with me. After completing this email will be working on editing the prospectus to turn in on time. 

Sincerely,

Sylvia Joyner

His response: 

Sylvia,

You have done some incredible work and I am proud of you. You pushed into the unknown yesterday and in such brave fashion. I am also grateful that you focused effort and consideration on prayer before making a final decision. I believe that completion of a post-graduate level executive certificate is just incredible and will enhance both your resume and the areas in which you seek to apply all of this collected wisdom. I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to you regarding the completion of this work. Should you ever want to publish a paper for the Christian Education Journal, or some other venue for publication, just look me up and we can write together.

Sincerely,

 

Leonard S. Momeny, EdD   

Adjunct Instructor   

John W. Rawlings School of Divinity  

I'm sharing this because life is about decision-making...and as Christian men and women of faith requires making those decisions without regret. My decision also included an option to choose the Executive Certificate of Completion in Christian Leadership as well, which shows the work that was done at the doctoral level has merit. 

I thank God for the opportunity and wisdom collected along the way. I pray that it strengthens your conviction to look forward rather than look backward.

 A lesson I have learned in decision-making is that peace and contentment abound within my entire being. Never should our expression be of looking back and saying, woulda, coulda, or even shoulda did this or that. No, every step I made was ordained by God to bring me to this space in my life. 

This proverbial scripture in Luke 9: 62 summarizes how you should conduct your everyday affairs, signifying that when one follows after Christ and His kingdom, that person should no longer operate from a worldly standard but from a Godly standard. To continue in that temporal vein makes an individual susceptible to always looking back with regret. Someone said, looking back will get you nowhere fast.

The scriptures below speak to the supremacy of living a life of faith and maturity in God. God has not purposed us to be regret makers, but men and women of positive conviction undergirded by the Word of God.

• 2 Timothy 4:7. 7 I have fought the good fight, I …
• Acts 3:19. 19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that …
• Acts 17:30. 30 In the past God overlooked such …
• Acts 20:24. 24 However, I consider my life worth …

So, the next time you have a decision (in any area), remember that your decision reflects your ability to live facing forward rather than looking back. 

Remember Lot's wife!!!!!

Richly Blessed,

Minister Sylvia Joyner