Make a Plan
Once you have taken responsibility for the mistake and repented, then the next step is to come up with a plan to rectify or correct the mistake. In order to begin a plan, one of the greatest things to do is begin with the end in mind. For my kids, I needed to look at where I wanted them to be when they grew up and work backwards. So I made a list of everything I wanted them to be as an adult. I wanted them to be saved, so I wrote that down. I wanted them to be filled with the Holy Ghost, so I wrote that down. I wanted them to be prayer warriors, to be able to share their faith and lead someone to the Lord, to be a giver, to flow in the gifts of the Spirit, so I wrote those things down.
After I made my list, I realized that first and foremost for those things to happen in my children’s lives, they would need a model. I wrote a similar list down for the kids in my children’s church. And when I brought in wonderful children’s workers, I only used adults whose lives were living examples of these choices. Once I had role models, I had those teachers share God’s Word in the classroom so the kids would not only hear the Word but see it as well. When those kids heard the Word and saw the teachers modeling Christian qualities, their lives began to change.
The exact same thing works in parenting. When we will teach kids God’s Word and model that behavior in our own lives, then we will see our kids become godly and walk those things out. But it is important that we are willing to model it first.
Once you have made a plan to correct your mistake, it is important that you walk it out. If correction or discipline is needed, take it and prove yourself faithful. There have been so many times in my life that I have been forgiven, but at the same time I had to prove that I could be trusted. After you are forgiven is the crucial time to prove you have truly repented.
Allow people to watch you begin to walk in the opposite direction. Walking it out takes time, and I know it is hard to be patient. But realize that God is a God of second chances. In Proverbs 3:34, it says, “He scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.” The lowly are the humble. If you will humble yourself, walk out your plan and stick with it, God will exalt you.
James 4:6 says that he will give us more grace: “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” First Peter 5:5 says, “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” You must walk it out. Realize that you have to prove yourself, and remember that God is the Restorer. If you will do what is right, He will restore you.
Sometimes you may think the steps you take to correct the problem are not justified or necessary, but I know that God always honors His Word. Go ahead and prove yourself faithful. God is going to settle the score for you. He will fix it. It might take a year, might take two years, it might take three years, but the information will get back where it needs to be. God will fix it, but we need to humble ourselves and do what is right, no matter what.
