In the classic movie Gone With The Wind, we see a tearful Scarlett O''Hara crying at the death of her husband Frank Kennedy.  A man she never loved but had married simply to get the money to pay the taxes on Tara. She felt responsible for his death and expressed deep remorse to her friend Rhett Butler.  But Rhett was not fooled by the emotional display and understood the true source of her sorrow. He said, "You''re like the man who is caught stealing a horse. You''re not sorry you stole it but you''re awfully sorry you got caught!"

Rhett gives a perfect description of the difference between regret and true repentance. To say it another way, when we are regretful, our focus is on ourselves and the consequences of our actions on us. But when we are truly repentant, the focus is completely different. Not only do we agree with God that what we did was wrong but we are sorry at how our actions hurt God and in some cases hurt others.

Why is it important to know this difference? Because it can mean the difference between answered prayer and unanswered prayer.  Many times we miss the blessings of God because of an unrepentant heart.  We are praying about our wants and needs and can''t understand why God does not appear to answer our requests. When unrepented sin exists in our lives as believers in Jesus Christ, it creates a barrier that can only be removed when we agree with God for the Bible says: "But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear."  (Isaiah 59:2)

Don''t accept the notion that you can''t change this! First (1)John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  When we go to God with a spirit of true repentance, He hears us and He takes action to remove that which would keep us in bondage  - our sin.

Beloved, are you feeling regret or repentant sorrow over unconfessed sins?  If you only regret your actions, ask God to give you godly sorrow, to see your sin the way He does - a barrier between you and Him that breaks His heart.  Feel the full weight of that which keeps you from having full fellowship with God and then confess your deep sorrow to Him from a truly repentant heart. But true repentance goes one step further.  When we agree with God about our sin, we resolve to not commit that sin again.  In other words, we change from the direction we were headed (our way) and start down a new path (His way).  Something amazing will happen! The weight of guilt you feel will lift as a veil and you will sense the immediate forgiveness of God.  He is anxious to be good to you! He longs to commune with you.

Get rid of regret today!  Instead repent and feel the fullness of God''s love for you.  You''ll be so glad that you did.