Turning from Regret to Righteousness

Turning from Regret to Righteousness
We’ve all been there.
The pillow feels heavy as soon as your head hits it. You’re not tired; you’re haunted. You’re replaying a scene from the day, a conversation that went sour, a choice you regret, a moment of anger, impatience, or selfishness. The guilt of "yesterday" (whether it was literally yesterday or last year) can feel like a backpack full of rocks. It weighs us down, slows our steps, and makes it hard to even look up.
We tell ourselves, "If only I hadn't done that," or "I can't believe I messed up again." The enemy loves this. He loves when we are so focused on the rearview mirror of our failures that we are paralyzed, unable to see the open road God has placed before us.
But here is the breathtaking, life-changing truth of the Gospel: God is not as interested in what you did wrong yesterday as He is in what you will do right—in His strength—today.
The Bible is a story of failures and new beginnings. It’s a testament to a God who doesn't discard broken people but remakes them. Think about it: Moses was a murderer. David was an adulterer. Rahab was a prostitute. Peter, in the most critical moment, denied he even knew Jesus.
Their "yesterdays" were full of disqualifying failures. But their stories didn't end there. Why? Because their identity was not sealed by their worst moment.
The most powerful promise for the person weighed down by yesterday is found in Lamentations 3:22-23:
> "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
> his mercies never come to an end;
> they are new every morning;
> great is your faithfulness."
> 
His mercy for you has a "born on" date of this morning. The forgiveness you needed for yesterday’s failures was already waiting for you before your feet even hit the floor. When God looks at you, He doesn't see a running tally of your sins. If you are in Christ, He sees the finished work of the cross.
Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"
Yesterday is the "old." It has gone. Today is the "new." It is here.
So, what does it mean to "do right today"?
It does not mean trying to earn back God’s favor. You can't. Jesus already secured it for you.
"Doing right today" is simply our response to His grace. It's about turning our face from the shadow of our past to the light of His presence. It is a practical, moment-by-moment choice.
 * It means repentance. Repentance isn't just saying "I'm sorry." It's agreeing with God that the "yesterday" behavior was wrong and actively turning away from it, walking in a new direction—His direction.
 * It means obedience. It’s asking, "God, what is the one right thing You want me to do next?" Maybe it's apologizing to the person you hurt. Maybe it's opening your Bible instead of your social media feed. Maybe it's choosing a gentle answer instead of a harsh one.
 * It means accepting the gift. Stop trying to pay for a gift that has already been given. Accept your forgiveness. Walk in it. When the feeling of guilt returns, speak the truth of Scripture to it: "I am forgiven. I am a new creation."
When Jesus found Peter on the beach after the resurrection (John 21), He didn't say, "Peter, let's talk about that night you denied me." He didn't re-hash the failure.
He asked him a "today" question: "Do you love me?"
And when Peter said yes, Jesus gave him a "today" mission: "Feed my sheep."
Jesus was not interested in Peter's failure; He was interested in his love and his availability. It's the same for you. He is not looking at your stumble. He is looking at your heart, right now, asking, "Do you love me?"
If your answer is yes, then He has a mission for you—today.
Don't let the failures of yesterday hold ransom the victory God has planned for you today. Yesterday is under the blood of Christ. Today is a clean page.
Pick up your pen, look to Him, and let's write a new story.