No Regrets – Pastor Stacey Shiflett

I have spent many hours over the past few weeks reflecting on my life and my life’s choices.

I’ve thought how that my decisions and choices have played out over time.
I’ve looked at the ripple effect that it has had on my wife and children.
I’ve come to a simple yet profound conclusion – I have no regrets.

I am grateful for the life that God has allowed me to live.

I am grateful for my wife and my children.

I am grateful that God has brought us to this place in our life.

When I was 4, I accepted Christ.

As I grew older, I understood that there were two paths; the path of the wicked and one for the righteous.

Notice how many times David referred to the distinction of the righteous JUST IN CHAPTER 37!

I have NO REGRETS for choosing the path of the Righteous.

I’m glad that I chose the path of the righteous.

David started out the chapter in verse 1 with a strong admonition to not envy the evildoers.

See the verse:

So many young people today can’t take their eyes off of the world.

They want what the world wants.

They have bought into the lies that the evildoers somehow have a better life and always win.

They do NOT have a better life! They have a miserable life. And they NEVER win.

I have NO REGRETS for choosing to take the path of righteousness.

I have failed Him, but He has never failed me.

I have disappointed Him many times, but He has never disappointed me.

I have strayed from Him and from His precepts, but He has never left my side.

David said, “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken…”

David had seen a lot of “forsaking” in his day.

• His brothers got angry with him and falsely accused him when he asked about Goliath.
• He had been the victim of jealousy and envy by the king he loved and ministered to.
• He had to avoid being pinned to the wall by javelins on two separate occasions.
• He had to say goodbye to his dearest friend Jonathan and was never able to see his face again.
• His wife Michal mocked him for worshipping God and despised him in her heart.
• His own son, Absalom tried to take his kingdom from him, and he had to flee for his life.

David had seen his fare share of people that forsook him, but God had never forsaken him!

It was David that said:

• Psalms 27:10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.

It was David that said:

• Psalms 94:14 For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.

I have had a lot of people in my life that for one reason or another just walked away.

I’ve had people that I loved and respected to discard me like a piece of trash.

I’ve had some that promised to always be my friend to leave me high and dry for no good reason.

But there is One that I have leaned on that has never let me down.

There is One that I put my trust in that has never abandoned me.

There is One that I looked to in time of need that has never forsaken me.

I want to go on record tonight and say that I have NO REGRETS for the Presence that I have trusted.

• Hebrews 13:5 …for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Notice David’s statement in verse 25 “…nor his seed begging bread.”

David was testifying of several things in this verse, but one is unmistakable.

David was testifying of the fact that God’s people have the joy of being recipients of God’s bread.

Make no mistake: the wicked eat bread too.

The devil feeds his children bread, but it’s a different kind of bread.

Proverbs 4

• 14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
• 17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

David’s testimony is simple – I have no regrets for what my Heavenly Father has provided.

David mentioned several of God’s provisions in these verses:

               A. The Provision of Bread – vs. 25

               B. The Provision of Mercy – vs. 26 “He is ever merciful…”

Twice David mentioned his children (seed).

The first time was in verse 25 and the BREAD of the Seed.

The second time was in verse 26 and the BLESSING

Make no mistake – choosing to serve God is a generational decision.

People that go into the world and follow after sin are stacking the deck against their own children.

Notice what God’s Word says about the seed of the wicked:

• Psalms 37:28 For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
• Proverbs 11:21 Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

I want to go on record tonight saying that I have NO REGRETS for bringing my children up in the old paths!

• I have NO REGRET for teaching my children to want God’s bread.
• I have NO REGRET for exposing them to the preaching and teaching of the Word of God.
• I have NO REGRET for bringing them up in old-time religion.
• I have NO REGRET for keeping them out of public school.
• I have NO REGRET for training them to obey and respect authority.
• I have NO REGRET for instructing them to follow God and not the things of the world.
• I have NO REGRET for admonishing them to keep themselves pure and get married virgins.
• I have NO REGRET for disciplining them and chastening them and protecting them.
• I have NO REGRET for making sure they followed my rules as long as they were living in my house.
• I have NO REGRET for being the spiritual leader and pointing them toward God from the day they were born.