Hebrews 12:1 - Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,

Remember that God always gives you a second chance.

(Jonah 1:1-5) The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: (2) "Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before Me."

But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD.

Then the LORD sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. (05) All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god.

And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship. But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep.

Are we making decisions that are

drawing us closer to God

or driving us farther away from God?

(Jonah 1:12) “Pick me up and throw me into the sea,” he replied, “and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.”

Recovering from Bad Choices

1. Take responsibility for your bad choice.

(Proverbs 28:13 LB) A man who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful. But if he confesses and forsakes them, he gets another chance.

“You’re not a failure until you start blaming others for your mistakes.”

John Wooden

Recovering from Bad Choices

1. Take responsibility for your bad choice.

2. Repent and turn away from the bad choice you made.

(Jonah 2:9) “...What I have vowed I will make good...”

(Acts 3:19) Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.

“Repentance means you change your mind so deeply that it changes you.”

Bruce Wilkerson

(Jonah 3:1) Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time...

Recovering from Bad Choices

1. Take responsibility for your bad choice.

2. Repent and turn away from the bad choice you made.

3. Embrace God’s grace.

We serve the God of a second chance.

(Hebrews 4:16) Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

· Don’t let bad choices define you.

(Romans 8:1) Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

· Don’t let bad choices disqualify you.

Jonah 3:3 - Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh.

Don’t ever ruin a good apology with an excuse.

Guarding Against Making Bad Choices

1. Use God’s Word to guide you.

(Psalm 119:105) Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

Guarding Against Making Bad Choices

1. Use God’s Word to guide you.

2. Ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom.

(John 16:13) But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.

When Making Decisions …

· Are my choices God-honoring?

· How will this affect my spiritual health?

We have to know the difference between

friends that we’re on mission with

and friends we’re on mission for.

Guarding Against Making Bad Choices

1. Use God’s Word to guide you.

2. Ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom.

3. Seek Godly counsel.

(Proverbs 13:20) He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffer harm.