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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - Say Goodbye To Time Regrets

September 3, 2025 | S25 E3604 | 29:0

Robert Jeffress - Say Goodbye To Time Regrets
Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.
#inActive #Regret #Timing #Lifestyle #Choices #Past #Future #Repentance #Redemption #Wisdom #Foolishness #Visions/Dreams #Goals #Success

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Say Goodbye To Time Regrets | September 3, 2025
  • ...
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Male announcer: from the pulpit of the first baptist church of
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  • Dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory" with
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  • Dr. robert jeffress.
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  • Dr. robert jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress, and welcome
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  • Again to "pathway to victory."
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  • If you're like me, you likely find that the days go by
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  • Too quickly.
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  • Sometimes, i get so engrossed in a task, that i'm shocked when i
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  • Finally look up at the clock.
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  • If we're not careful, those hours can turn into days and
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  • Weeks and months and even years.
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  • And we're left wondering where did all the time go?
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  • We're discovering how to say goodbye to time regrets on
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  • Today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Announcer: god doesn't want you to carry around the weight of
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  • Sins he's already forgiven.
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  • In his bestselling book, "say goodbye to regret," dr. robert
  • 00:00:58.715 --> 00:01:02.352
  • Jeffress helps you live beyond the would-haves, could-haves,
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  • And should-haves to embrace the future god has planned for you.
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  • You can't undo the past, but there's plenty you can do to
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  • Reshape tomorrow and eternity.
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  • Discover the biblical secrets for regret-free living when you
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  • Request the book, "say goodbye to regret."
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  • Thank you for giving generously to "pathway to victory."
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Jeffress: benjamin franklin once asked, "dost thou love life?
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  • If so, do not squander time, for time is the stuff life is
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  • Made of."
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  • You know, it's interesting when we talk about regrets how many
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  • People's regrets center around the use or misuse of their time.
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  • Too much time spent watching television, not enough time
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  • Building my relationship with god, too much time worrying, too
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  • Much time in an unfulfilling relationship, not enough time
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  • With my children.
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  • If regrets about time are a major source of regrets in all
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  • Areas of life, then it seems like we need to talk about what
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  • The bible says is the best way to use our time.
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  • You know, regrets about time can be especially painful because we
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  • Can never regain time that we've lost.
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  • If the misuse of time is a major source of regret, how can we use
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  • Time wisely?
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  • That's what today's message is about.
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  • We're going to look at the biblical principles for using
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  • Our time wisely.
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  • But before we do that, i want us to look at three overarching
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  • Biblical principles about time you find in the scripture.
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  • First of all, write this down, time is limited.
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  • Time is limited.
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  • We forget that sometimes.
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  • It takes the departure of a child to college or the death of
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  • A loved one or just a brief look in the mirror to remind us that
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  • Time is quickly passing by.
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  • Somebody said life is like a roll of toilet paper, the closer
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  • You get to the end the more quickly it goes.
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  • Well, that's true.
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  • Moses said it a little more eloquently in the earliest psalm
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  • That was ever written, psalm 90.
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  • Remember what moses said in verses 5 and 6?
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  • Let me read this from the living bible.
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  • He says, "we glide along the tides of time as swiftly as a
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  • Racing river and we vanish as quickly as a dream."
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  • Have you ever gone on a river rafting trip down the colorado
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  • River or something like it?
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  • If you've ever been in that experience, you know, you've got
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  • A guide who thinks he's controlling the river.
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  • He'll even do a few things like use a paddle to push away
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  • Against the dangerous rock.
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  • But pretty soon you figure out he's not controlling the river,
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  • The river is controlling him and everybody else in that boat.
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  • It's taking you rapidly to its intended destination.
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  • Moses uses that metaphor for how our life and our time is.
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  • He uses another metaphor.
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  • He says, "we are like grass that is green in the morning but
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  • Mowed down and withered before the evening shadows fall."
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  • Now, in reality grass isn't planted and grows and it dies in
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  • A single day, unless you're living in dallas, texas, in the
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  • Middle of the summer, but in most places, it doesn't happen
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  • That quickly.
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  • It takes a period of time.
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  • It's the same way with our lives.
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  • We don't live and die in one day, but it seems that way
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  • Sometimes because life passes so quickly.
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  • So, what's to be our response to the passing of time?
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  • Panic?
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  • Worry?
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  • No, listen to what moses says in psalm 90, verse 12.
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  • So then, "teach us to number our days and recognize how few they
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  • Are, help us to spend them as we should."
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  • And that's what we're going to talk about today.
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  • How we ought to spend our time to value the time god has
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  • Given us.
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  • There's a second truth, and that is we're responsible for the
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  • Use of our time.
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  • This idea of a racing river, that's a good metaphor of time,
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  • But we shouldn't feel like we're victims of time.
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  • It just carries us wherever it wants.
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  • God wants us to master our time.
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  • In matthew 25 jesus said, in one of the parables, that one day
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  • We're gonna be judged.
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  • Remember the parable of the talents?
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  • We're gonna be judged according to the treasures, to the
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  • Opportunities, and according to the time that god has given each
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  • One of us.
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  • And then, thirdly, a biblical principle, and this is so
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  • Important, is it's possible to redeem time.
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  • It's possible to redeem time.
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  • Now, that's the paradox.
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  • You can never reclaim time that's been lost, it's gone
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  • Forever, but you can redeem, you can make good use of the time
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  • You have left and, in some inexplicable way, it can even
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  • Make up for the time you have lost.
  • 00:06:34.283 --> 00:06:37.253
  • When paul wrote to the christians at ephesus, he was
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  • Addressing a group of people who had wasted a lot of
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  • Time in their lives before they were christians.
  • 00:06:42.758 --> 00:06:45.495
  • In ephesians 2:3 he said, "among them," that is, unbelievers, "we
  • 00:06:45.495 --> 00:06:49.932
  • Too all formerly lived in the lust of our flesh, indulging the
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  • Desires of the flesh and of the mind, we were by nature children
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  • Of wrath, even as the rest."
  • 00:06:58.508 --> 00:07:01.143
  • Now, these ephesian christians, they could have spent the rest
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  • Of their lives living with regret about their ungodly past.
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  • Paul said, "i don't want you to be prisoners of the
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  • Past when it comes to the way you lived.
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  • Instead, repent of the past and look forward to the future."
  • 00:07:13.389 --> 00:07:19.061
  • And he says in ephesians 5:16, "redeeming the time, because the
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  • Days are evil."
  • 00:07:24.667 --> 00:07:27.603
  • That's what it means to use time wisely.
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  • It is to redeem the time.
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  • Now, some of you are gonna say this is nothing more than a
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  • Positive thinking sermon.
  • 00:07:36.412 --> 00:07:38.748
  • But what i want you to see is everything else we talk about
  • 00:07:38.748 --> 00:07:41.851
  • For the next 15 or 20 minutes is simply an application of
  • 00:07:41.851 --> 00:07:46.589
  • Ephesians 5:16.
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  • How do you redeem the time god has given you?
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  • Let me suggest to you five biblical principles.
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  • Number one, and this is so foundational, learn the lesson
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  • Of the big rocks.
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  • Learn the lesson of the big rocks.
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  • Stephen covey--yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
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  • I know he was a mormon, okay?
  • 00:08:06.509 --> 00:08:08.511
  • Don't send me any emails.
  • 00:08:08.511 --> 00:08:10.279
  • Even a broken clock can be right twice a day.
  • 00:08:10.279 --> 00:08:14.050
  • Stephen covey is a best selling author and he tells a great
  • 00:08:14.050 --> 00:08:17.453
  • Story about an associate of his who went to a time management
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  • Seminar, and in the middle of this lecture, the instructor
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  • Pulled out from the shelf underneath him a big gallon jar
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  • That was empty and then he pulled out a bucket of
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  • Big rocks.
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  • He asked the audience, "how many rocks do you think are in
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  • This bucket?
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  • How many of them do you think i can fit into this empty jar?"
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  • They said three, four, five.
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  • So, he took one by one, he got four rocks in there.
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  • And he said, "how many of you think this jar is now full?"
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  • Everybody raised their hand.
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  • He said, "let me show you why you're wrong."
  • 00:08:54.924 --> 00:08:57.460
  • He then picked up a bucket filled with gravel and he poured
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  • The gravel into that jar and the gravel went down and filled in
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  • The empty spaces left by the big rocks.
  • 00:09:05.768 --> 00:09:08.771
  • He said, "how many of you would say this jar is now empty?"
  • 00:09:08.771 --> 00:09:12.308
  • Half of the people raised their hand.
  • 00:09:12.308 --> 00:09:14.543
  • He said, "let me show you again why you're wrong."
  • 00:09:14.543 --> 00:09:17.346
  • He then picked up a bucket of fine sand and he poured that
  • 00:09:17.346 --> 00:09:21.684
  • Fine sand in and it filled in spaces left by the big rocks and
  • 00:09:21.684 --> 00:09:26.789
  • The gravel.
  • 00:09:26.789 --> 00:09:28.124
  • He said, "now, how many of you would say this jar is full?"
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  • Nobody raised their hand.
  • 00:09:32.762 --> 00:09:34.563
  • He said, "you're right and let me show you why."
  • 00:09:34.563 --> 00:09:38.000
  • He then picked up a container of water and was able to get nearly
  • 00:09:38.000 --> 00:09:41.504
  • A quart of water in that jar.
  • 00:09:41.504 --> 00:09:44.373
  • He said, "now, what lesson about time management does this
  • 00:09:44.373 --> 00:09:48.744
  • Illustration teach you?"
  • 00:09:48.744 --> 00:09:50.546
  • And one student raised his hand and said, "it means no matter
  • 00:09:50.546 --> 00:09:54.517
  • How full your schedule is, you can always squeeze something
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  • Else into it."
  • 00:09:57.920 --> 00:10:00.790
  • The instructor said, "no, that's not the lesson.
  • 00:10:00.790 --> 00:10:04.660
  • The lesson is had i not put the big rocks in first, i never
  • 00:10:04.660 --> 00:10:11.167
  • Would have been able to put them in later."
  • 00:10:11.167 --> 00:10:14.136
  • Put the big rocks in first.
  • 00:10:14.136 --> 00:10:18.507
  • That is the key to managing your time wisely.
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  • To discover what the big rocks, the important things of your
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  • Life are that you want to devote your time to.
  • 00:10:26.348 --> 00:10:29.985
  • Now, those big rocks can be different for different people.
  • 00:10:29.985 --> 00:10:32.888
  • Let me help you focus on what your big rocks may be.
  • 00:10:32.888 --> 00:10:36.492
  • If you could ask god to give you any four things, what would you
  • 00:10:36.492 --> 00:10:40.863
  • Ask him to give you in your life?
  • 00:10:40.863 --> 00:10:43.299
  • Now, don't give a miss america answer.
  • 00:10:43.299 --> 00:10:45.701
  • World peace, end of starvation, love for my fellow men.
  • 00:10:45.701 --> 00:10:49.972
  • No, what would you really say?
  • 00:10:49.972 --> 00:10:54.076
  • You know, most of our regrets in life have nothing to do with the
  • 00:10:54.076 --> 00:10:58.581
  • Sand and gravel that fills up our life.
  • 00:10:58.581 --> 00:11:01.817
  • It's for what is not in our life yet, those big rocks.
  • 00:11:01.817 --> 00:11:06.255
  • And that's why it's so important to know what they are.
  • 00:11:06.255 --> 00:11:09.225
  • Secondly, turn your dreams, or your big rocks, into goals.
  • 00:11:09.225 --> 00:11:15.097
  • You know, a dream without a plan is only a wish.
  • 00:11:15.097 --> 00:11:19.135
  • We need a way to take those dreams, those big rocks, what we
  • 00:11:19.135 --> 00:11:23.005
  • Really want from god, and turn them into a goal.
  • 00:11:23.005 --> 00:11:26.509
  • By the way, a goal is a specific accomplishment that can be
  • 00:11:26.509 --> 00:11:30.646
  • Measured by time and date.
  • 00:11:30.646 --> 00:11:33.482
  • You know, let's take to have a more intimate relationship
  • 00:11:33.482 --> 00:11:36.619
  • With god.
  • 00:11:36.619 --> 00:11:37.987
  • That may be a great objective, but it's not a goal.
  • 00:11:37.987 --> 00:11:40.890
  • You have to be able to measure it.
  • 00:11:40.890 --> 00:11:42.691
  • What does it mean to have a more intimate relationship with god?
  • 00:11:42.691 --> 00:11:46.061
  • Well, maybe you would say, "well, what that takes is time,
  • 00:11:46.061 --> 00:11:49.031
  • Time spent with god."
  • 00:11:49.031 --> 00:11:50.533
  • So, here's my goal.
  • 00:11:50.533 --> 00:11:52.568
  • I want to spend 15 minutes a day reading my bible and praying
  • 00:11:52.568 --> 00:11:58.140
  • Beginning tomorrow.
  • 00:11:58.140 --> 00:12:00.042
  • I wanna spend 15 minutes a day, perhaps you say 5 days a
  • 00:12:00.042 --> 00:12:04.146
  • Week, reading my bible and praying to the lord
  • 00:12:04.146 --> 00:12:08.751
  • Beginning tomorrow.
  • 00:12:08.751 --> 00:12:10.119
  • Now, that's a very specific goal.
  • 00:12:10.119 --> 00:12:12.721
  • Maybe some of you would say, "my goal, one of my goals, is to
  • 00:12:12.721 --> 00:12:16.458
  • Have a successful retirement, a fulfilling retirement."
  • 00:12:16.458 --> 00:12:19.595
  • Well, what does that look like for you?
  • 00:12:19.595 --> 00:12:21.397
  • Be specific.
  • 00:12:21.397 --> 00:12:23.098
  • Maybe you would say, "my goal is to retire by age 75 in the
  • 00:12:23.098 --> 00:12:28.771
  • Mountains of colorado living on 80% of my income."
  • 00:12:28.771 --> 00:12:32.575
  • Now, that's a very specific goal.
  • 00:12:32.575 --> 00:12:35.110
  • We need to turn our dreams into goals and that leads to a third
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  • Step for using your time wisely, make your goals a part of your
  • 00:12:41.016 --> 00:12:46.121
  • Daily schedule.
  • 00:12:46.121 --> 00:12:47.756
  • Now, this is where the rubber meets the road.
  • 00:12:47.756 --> 00:12:50.659
  • You've got to actually take those plans, those dreams, and
  • 00:12:50.659 --> 00:12:54.897
  • Integrate them into your daily schedule.
  • 00:12:54.897 --> 00:12:56.732
  • Your daily schedule ought to be informed by what the big rocks
  • 00:12:56.732 --> 00:13:01.770
  • Are in your life.
  • 00:13:01.770 --> 00:13:03.105
  • Now, realistically, you can't spend 100% of your time
  • 00:13:03.105 --> 00:13:05.941
  • Working on your big rocks.
  • 00:13:05.941 --> 00:13:07.276
  • You've got other responsibilities at work and
  • 00:13:07.276 --> 00:13:09.612
  • With your family, but at least 60% of your time ought to be
  • 00:13:09.612 --> 00:13:13.616
  • Spent on what you've identified as the big rocks for your life.
  • 00:13:13.616 --> 00:13:18.754
  • For example, you know, take spending time with god.
  • 00:13:18.754 --> 00:13:22.157
  • If you're gonna read your bible 15 minutes a day and pray, there
  • 00:13:22.157 --> 00:13:25.394
  • May be some things you need to do to make that happen.
  • 00:13:25.394 --> 00:13:29.331
  • First of all, you may need an alarm clock to get up in
  • 00:13:29.331 --> 00:13:32.401
  • The morning.
  • 00:13:32.401 --> 00:13:33.736
  • You know, some people have trouble getting blanket victory
  • 00:13:33.736 --> 00:13:36.705
  • Every day.
  • 00:13:36.705 --> 00:13:38.040
  • And so, maybe you need an alarm clock or at least how to learn
  • 00:13:38.040 --> 00:13:40.643
  • How to use the alarm on your iphone.
  • 00:13:40.643 --> 00:13:43.812
  • You may want a new bible.
  • 00:13:43.812 --> 00:13:45.981
  • Maybe you'd like a paraphrase or a different version of the bible
  • 00:13:45.981 --> 00:13:49.952
  • That would speak to you in a fresh way.
  • 00:13:49.952 --> 00:13:51.754
  • Maybe you get a prayer journal to record your request to god
  • 00:13:51.754 --> 00:13:56.325
  • And god's answers.
  • 00:13:56.325 --> 00:13:57.693
  • Take those objectives, those goals, and make your list of
  • 00:13:57.693 --> 00:14:01.864
  • Things to do based on those objectives.
  • 00:14:01.864 --> 00:14:05.701
  • Now, there are several ways to do this and i know i'm getting
  • 00:14:05.701 --> 00:14:09.371
  • Into the weeds here, but again, we're trying to discover how to
  • 00:14:09.371 --> 00:14:12.841
  • Use your time wisely as the bible says to do.
  • 00:14:12.841 --> 00:14:15.778
  • One is a daily to do list.
  • 00:14:15.778 --> 00:14:18.247
  • Now, this is a simple concept.
  • 00:14:18.247 --> 00:14:19.715
  • Many of you do it.
  • 00:14:19.715 --> 00:14:21.050
  • Before you go to bed the night before, make a list of all the
  • 00:14:21.050 --> 00:14:23.786
  • Things you need to do the next day.
  • 00:14:23.786 --> 00:14:26.555
  • A variation of that is make a list of the five most important
  • 00:14:26.555 --> 00:14:31.260
  • Things you can do the next day.
  • 00:14:31.260 --> 00:14:33.696
  • Even if you don't get through the list, at least you've done
  • 00:14:33.696 --> 00:14:36.165
  • The most important things first.
  • 00:14:36.165 --> 00:14:38.534
  • Now, that's a good way to manage your time.
  • 00:14:38.534 --> 00:14:41.971
  • But there's a problem with it and sometimes the things we do
  • 00:14:41.971 --> 00:14:45.507
  • Aren't the most important things we could be doing.
  • 00:14:45.507 --> 00:14:48.177
  • President dwight eisenhower said, "i've come to understand
  • 00:14:48.177 --> 00:14:51.613
  • That the important things in life are seldom urgent and the
  • 00:14:51.613 --> 00:14:56.285
  • Urgent things are seldom important."
  • 00:14:56.285 --> 00:14:59.555
  • And so, another way to manage your day is what some people
  • 00:14:59.555 --> 00:15:04.193
  • Call the "eat the big frog first" principle.
  • 00:15:04.193 --> 00:15:08.297
  • That is, start your day doing the hardest, most distasteful
  • 00:15:08.297 --> 00:15:13.268
  • Thing you have to do and get it out of the way so you can go on
  • 00:15:13.268 --> 00:15:17.139
  • To other things.
  • 00:15:17.139 --> 00:15:18.507
  • Now, here's the problem with that idea.
  • 00:15:18.507 --> 00:15:20.743
  • Many times, the most distasteful and hardest thing you have to do
  • 00:15:20.743 --> 00:15:24.113
  • Is not the most important thing.
  • 00:15:24.113 --> 00:15:25.881
  • For example, a salesman wakes up on monday morning, he's all
  • 00:15:25.881 --> 00:15:28.884
  • Energized ready to go out and make sales calls, but he
  • 00:15:28.884 --> 00:15:31.787
  • Remembers he's got to turn in that report from last month to
  • 00:15:31.787 --> 00:15:34.790
  • His supervisor and he hates filling out reports.
  • 00:15:34.790 --> 00:15:38.227
  • Well, he spends the morning trying to summon up the strength
  • 00:15:38.227 --> 00:15:41.230
  • To fill out that report when, really, the most important thing
  • 00:15:41.230 --> 00:15:44.266
  • He could be out doing is selling.
  • 00:15:44.266 --> 00:15:47.936
  • I think the best way to manage your daily task is using that
  • 00:15:47.936 --> 00:15:54.209
  • Big rocks principle that i talked about just
  • 00:15:54.209 --> 00:15:57.713
  • A few moments ago.
  • 00:15:57.713 --> 00:15:59.048
  • Now, some of you are saying, "pastor, again, is this really
  • 00:15:59.048 --> 00:16:03.152
  • Biblical, what you're talking about?"
  • 00:16:03.152 --> 00:16:05.387
  • Listen to ephesians chapter 5, verses 15 and 16, coming from
  • 00:16:05.387 --> 00:16:10.793
  • The phillips paraphrase.
  • 00:16:10.793 --> 00:16:12.528
  • I love the way--in fact, i memorized it a long time ago,
  • 00:16:12.528 --> 00:16:15.631
  • "live life, then, with a due sense of responsibility, not as
  • 00:16:15.631 --> 00:16:20.803
  • Men who don't know the meaning and purpose of life but as those
  • 00:16:20.803 --> 00:16:24.506
  • Who do.
  • 00:16:24.506 --> 00:16:25.874
  • Make the best use of your time, despite all the difficulties of
  • 00:16:25.874 --> 00:16:31.547
  • These days."
  • 00:16:31.547 --> 00:16:32.915
  • That's what we're talking about.
  • 00:16:32.915 --> 00:16:34.616
  • Fourth, how do you use your time wisely?
  • 00:16:34.616 --> 00:16:37.853
  • Be realistic in your time management goals.
  • 00:16:37.853 --> 00:16:42.624
  • We all know what it's like at the beginning of summer, you
  • 00:16:42.624 --> 00:16:45.094
  • Have that humiliating experience of trying on your swimsuit for
  • 00:16:45.094 --> 00:16:49.031
  • The first time of the season.
  • 00:16:49.031 --> 00:16:51.400
  • And you're horrified at what you see in the mirror, so you make
  • 00:16:51.400 --> 00:16:54.837
  • A resolve.
  • 00:16:54.837 --> 00:16:56.171
  • You're gonna go on a diet.
  • 00:16:56.171 --> 00:16:57.873
  • No more sweets, no more sugar.
  • 00:16:57.873 --> 00:17:00.943
  • You're gonna quit eating supper for the rest of your life and
  • 00:17:00.943 --> 00:17:04.413
  • You go on this diet and it lasts all of a month, a week, or 24
  • 00:17:04.413 --> 00:17:09.518
  • Hours and then you give up.
  • 00:17:09.518 --> 00:17:11.987
  • Because it's not realistic.
  • 00:17:11.987 --> 00:17:14.123
  • People who talk about diet--no, you need to set a standard that
  • 00:17:14.123 --> 00:17:18.494
  • Is measurable.
  • 00:17:18.494 --> 00:17:19.862
  • It's the same way in our time to say, "i'm just gonna fill up my
  • 00:17:19.862 --> 00:17:23.298
  • Calendar with big rocks.
  • 00:17:23.298 --> 00:17:24.666
  • I'm never watching television again.
  • 00:17:24.666 --> 00:17:26.335
  • I'm never doing anything i like to again.
  • 00:17:26.335 --> 00:17:28.604
  • I'm gonna work, work," right?
  • 00:17:28.604 --> 00:17:29.938
  • That's unrealistic.
  • 00:17:29.938 --> 00:17:31.807
  • You need to plan your schedule in a realistic ways.
  • 00:17:31.807 --> 00:17:35.144
  • For example, your schedule should allow for times
  • 00:17:35.144 --> 00:17:37.813
  • Of relaxation.
  • 00:17:37.813 --> 00:17:39.248
  • That's god's idea, by the way.
  • 00:17:39.248 --> 00:17:41.483
  • There needs to be one day a week we focus on our spiritual and
  • 00:17:41.483 --> 00:17:45.821
  • Our physical refreshment and relaxation.
  • 00:17:45.821 --> 00:17:48.857
  • I think that principle needs to be applied to every day.
  • 00:17:48.857 --> 00:17:52.227
  • There ought to be a time of the day when you say, "enough."
  • 00:17:52.227 --> 00:17:55.764
  • It might be 6 in the evening, it might be 8 in
  • 00:17:55.764 --> 00:17:58.433
  • The evening.
  • 00:17:58.433 --> 00:17:59.768
  • It's not that i've cleaned every dish that needs to be cleaned,
  • 00:17:59.768 --> 00:18:02.337
  • Or washed every piece of clothing, or made every phone
  • 00:18:02.337 --> 00:18:04.740
  • Call, but i've done everything i need to do today and it's time
  • 00:18:04.740 --> 00:18:09.044
  • To do something else.
  • 00:18:09.044 --> 00:18:11.547
  • Ecclesiastes 2:24 solomon said, "there is nothing better for a
  • 00:18:11.547 --> 00:18:16.251
  • Man than to eat and drink, and tell himself that his labor
  • 00:18:16.251 --> 00:18:19.454
  • Is good."
  • 00:18:19.454 --> 00:18:20.789
  • God meant for us to enjoy life, not just endure it.
  • 00:18:20.789 --> 00:18:24.726
  • Secondly, your schedule ought to be flexible enough to handle
  • 00:18:24.726 --> 00:18:27.663
  • Bad days.
  • 00:18:27.663 --> 00:18:29.865
  • You all know what i mean when i talk about bad days?
  • 00:18:29.865 --> 00:18:33.068
  • It's when sickness or fatigue or depression or
  • 00:18:33.068 --> 00:18:37.072
  • Interruptions--when they just sabotage what you had planned
  • 00:18:37.072 --> 00:18:40.742
  • To do.
  • 00:18:40.742 --> 00:18:42.110
  • I know for me, a particular bad day that i can actually schedule
  • 00:18:42.110 --> 00:18:45.781
  • Every year is the day i get back from vacation.
  • 00:18:45.781 --> 00:18:49.885
  • Man, that's just a bad day because everything's piled up
  • 00:18:49.885 --> 00:18:53.155
  • And a little disappointed and i know not to schedule anything
  • 00:18:53.155 --> 00:18:59.094
  • Heavy the day after a vacation.
  • 00:18:59.094 --> 00:19:00.796
  • I go through my mail, i return phone calls, i do things that
  • 00:19:00.796 --> 00:19:04.499
  • Don't require a lot of activity.
  • 00:19:04.499 --> 00:19:07.102
  • Just be sure that you allow for bad days.
  • 00:19:07.102 --> 00:19:09.838
  • And thirdly, leave enough cushion in your schedule to plan
  • 00:19:09.838 --> 00:19:14.443
  • For interruptions.
  • 00:19:14.443 --> 00:19:16.211
  • Maybe a drop-in visit, an emergency that you had
  • 00:19:16.211 --> 00:19:19.281
  • Not scheduled.
  • 00:19:19.281 --> 00:19:20.616
  • You know, many times interruptions are god's way of
  • 00:19:20.616 --> 00:19:24.052
  • Redirecting our lives.
  • 00:19:24.052 --> 00:19:26.288
  • I think about the passage in james 4, 13 to 15, "come now,
  • 00:19:26.288 --> 00:19:30.626
  • You who say, 'today or tomorrow we'll go to such and such a
  • 00:19:30.626 --> 00:19:34.830
  • City, and spend a year and make a profit.'
  • 00:19:34.830 --> 00:19:37.766
  • You don't know what will happen tomorrow.
  • 00:19:37.766 --> 00:19:39.935
  • You're just like a vapor that appears for a little while and
  • 00:19:39.935 --> 00:19:42.838
  • Then vanishes away.
  • 00:19:42.838 --> 00:19:44.406
  • Instead, you ought to say, 'if the lord wills, we will do this
  • 00:19:44.406 --> 00:19:48.677
  • Or that.'"
  • 00:19:48.677 --> 00:19:50.012
  • Now, james isn't saying don't make plans, don't fill out your
  • 00:19:50.012 --> 00:19:52.214
  • Boulder grid schedule.
  • 00:19:52.214 --> 00:19:53.749
  • He's simply saying, "realize god may have a different plan and be
  • 00:19:53.749 --> 00:19:58.320
  • Ready for that."
  • 00:19:58.320 --> 00:19:59.888
  • I one time attended a time management seminar led by the
  • 00:19:59.888 --> 00:20:03.158
  • Late ted engstrom, the president of world vision.
  • 00:20:03.158 --> 00:20:08.030
  • He made an insightful comment when he said, "most people
  • 00:20:08.030 --> 00:20:11.433
  • Overestimate what they can accomplish in a year, but they
  • 00:20:11.433 --> 00:20:15.637
  • Underestimate what they can accomplish in five years."
  • 00:20:15.637 --> 00:20:20.042
  • Be realistic in your time management.
  • 00:20:20.042 --> 00:20:23.211
  • And, finally, to use your time wisely, and this is so key,
  • 00:20:23.211 --> 00:20:27.716
  • Refuse to be paralyzed by the past.
  • 00:20:27.716 --> 00:20:31.820
  • Refuse to be paralyzed by the past.
  • 00:20:31.887 --> 00:20:35.257
  • You know, because of israel's disobedience to god, god said to
  • 00:20:35.257 --> 00:20:39.728
  • The prophet joel that he were going to send the locusts to the
  • 00:20:39.728 --> 00:20:43.598
  • Land of israel to destroy all of their crops.
  • 00:20:43.598 --> 00:20:47.636
  • Devastating losses would occur, but god looked beyond that
  • 00:20:47.636 --> 00:20:52.341
  • Judgment to a day israel would turn back to god and god would
  • 00:20:52.341 --> 00:20:56.411
  • Bless them again.
  • 00:20:56.411 --> 00:20:57.746
  • Listen to what he says about
  • 00:20:57.746 --> 00:20:59.715
  • That future restoration, "then i will make
  • 00:20:59.715 --> 00:21:01.983
  • Up to you for the years that the swarming locust
  • 00:21:01.983 --> 00:21:06.755
  • Has eaten, the creeping locust, the stripping locust, and the
  • 00:21:06.755 --> 00:21:10.459
  • Gnawing locust, my great army which i sent among you.
  • 00:21:10.459 --> 00:21:14.596
  • You shall then have plenty to eat and be satisfied.
  • 00:21:14.596 --> 00:21:18.500
  • And praise the name of the lord your god who has dealt
  • 00:21:18.500 --> 00:21:22.137
  • Wondrously with you.
  • 00:21:22.137 --> 00:21:23.772
  • Then my people will never again be put to shame."
  • 00:21:23.772 --> 00:21:28.510
  • Although israel's loss was real, and in some ways irreversible,
  • 00:21:28.510 --> 00:21:33.382
  • God said, in some inexplicable way, he would make up for what
  • 00:21:33.382 --> 00:21:37.452
  • They lost and reward them in the future.
  • 00:21:37.452 --> 00:21:41.089
  • Maybe you can identify with that as you look over the past
  • 00:21:41.089 --> 00:21:45.327
  • Years, decades.
  • 00:21:45.327 --> 00:21:47.829
  • You would say the locusts of slothfulness, of indecision, of
  • 00:21:47.829 --> 00:21:53.769
  • Purposelessness have robbed you of years and even decades of
  • 00:21:53.769 --> 00:21:58.273
  • Your life.
  • 00:21:58.273 --> 00:22:00.108
  • You can't make up for that in the past, but you can reclaim
  • 00:22:00.108 --> 00:22:04.813
  • Your time for your future.
  • 00:22:04.813 --> 00:22:07.416
  • If that's true of you, if you regret the wasted time you've
  • 00:22:07.416 --> 00:22:11.052
  • Had in your life, confess those mistakes to god, receive his
  • 00:22:11.052 --> 00:22:15.757
  • Forgiveness, but then start to redeem the time god has given
  • 00:22:15.757 --> 00:22:20.662
  • You by putting the principles into effect we've talked
  • 00:22:20.662 --> 00:22:23.999
  • About today.
  • 00:22:23.999 --> 00:22:25.333
  • Once you've done that, you'll find you're well on the way to
  • 00:22:25.333 --> 00:22:30.205
  • The road to saying goodbye to regrets about your time.
  • 00:22:30.205 --> 00:22:35.277
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:22:35.277 --> 00:22:40.549
  • Jeffress: all of us carry a measure of regret, especially
  • 00:22:40.549 --> 00:22:43.885
  • When it comes to how we invest our time, and i hope today's
  • 00:22:43.885 --> 00:22:48.190
  • Message has renewed your hope regarding the time remaining in
  • 00:22:48.190 --> 00:22:52.060
  • Your future.
  • 00:22:52.060 --> 00:22:53.562
  • Now, in closing, i wanna share a note from jeffrey in virginia
  • 00:22:53.562 --> 00:22:57.566
  • Who wrote to thank me for the daily email devotionals he
  • 00:22:57.566 --> 00:23:00.902
  • Receives from "pathway to victory."
  • 00:23:00.902 --> 00:23:03.371
  • He wrote, "to me, the bible is hard to understand at times.
  • 00:23:03.371 --> 00:23:07.509
  • Your explanations and stories help me understand god's word
  • 00:23:07.509 --> 00:23:11.313
  • Better, and help me grow my faith in god.
  • 00:23:11.313 --> 00:23:14.883
  • Please keep them coming my way!"
  • 00:23:14.883 --> 00:23:17.452
  • Jeffrey, i'm so glad these daily devotionals are helping you
  • 00:23:17.452 --> 00:23:21.022
  • Grow in your faith.
  • 00:23:21.022 --> 00:23:22.357
  • And friends, thank you for supporting "pathway to victory"
  • 00:23:22.357 --> 00:23:25.727
  • As we share the eternal truth and hope of the gospel with
  • 00:23:25.727 --> 00:23:29.397
  • Those who need to hear it.
  • 00:23:29.397 --> 00:23:31.299
  • Now, stay right there.
  • 00:23:31.299 --> 00:23:32.634
  • I'll be back with more in just a moment.
  • 00:23:32.634 --> 00:23:36.238
  • Announcer: what if your doctor were to say you had only six
  • 00:23:36.304 --> 00:23:39.140
  • Months left to live?
  • 00:23:39.140 --> 00:23:40.542
  • Would you have any regrets in your life?
  • 00:23:40.542 --> 00:23:42.644
  • In his best selling book, "say goodbye to regret," dr. robert
  • 00:23:42.644 --> 00:23:46.147
  • Jeffress shares biblical principles for dealing with
  • 00:23:46.147 --> 00:23:48.750
  • Regrets from your past and preventing regrets in
  • 00:23:48.750 --> 00:23:51.486
  • The future.
  • 00:23:51.486 --> 00:23:52.854
  • Jeffress: regret is one of life's most painful and
  • 00:23:52.854 --> 00:23:55.824
  • Unnecessary emotions and in my best selling book, "say goodbye
  • 00:23:55.824 --> 00:23:59.794
  • To regret," i'll help you turn those if-onlys into providential
  • 00:23:59.794 --> 00:24:04.299
  • Lessons in living.
  • 00:24:04.299 --> 00:24:05.901
  • Announcer: move forward in 2024 satisfied with the life
  • 00:24:05.901 --> 00:24:09.237
  • You're living.
  • 00:24:09.237 --> 00:24:10.572
  • Request your copy of "say goodbye to regret" when you give
  • 00:24:10.572 --> 00:24:13.008
  • A generous gift to "pathway to victory."
  • 00:24:13.008 --> 00:24:15.610
  • In the pages of this highly practical book, you'll discover
  • 00:24:15.610 --> 00:24:18.914
  • The biblical keys to leaving behind regrets about
  • 00:24:18.914 --> 00:24:21.583
  • Relationships, your marriage, finances and more.
  • 00:24:21.583 --> 00:24:25.186
  • And when you give $75 or more, we'll also send you the complete
  • 00:24:25.186 --> 00:24:29.457
  • Set of messages for the new "say goodbye to regret" teaching
  • 00:24:29.457 --> 00:24:32.494
  • Series on dvd video and mp3 format audio disc.
  • 00:24:32.494 --> 00:24:36.464
  • Jeffress: one of the heaviest weights other than sin
  • 00:24:36.464 --> 00:24:39.901
  • Is regret.
  • 00:24:39.901 --> 00:24:41.269
  • Regrets are not the problem in and of themselves, they are an
  • 00:24:41.269 --> 00:24:44.739
  • Indicator of a problem that needs to be dealt with.
  • 00:24:44.739 --> 00:24:48.843
  • Announcer: thank you for helping "pathway to victory"
  • 00:24:48.843 --> 00:24:51.346
  • Proclaim the redemptive power of jesus christ to a world in need.
  • 00:24:51.346 --> 00:24:55.450
  • Together we are broadcasting the message
  • 00:24:55.450 --> 00:24:58.053
  • Of god's love and forgiveness, biblical hope,
  • 00:24:58.053 --> 00:25:00.221
  • And life-transforming power across the country
  • 00:25:00.221 --> 00:25:03.291
  • And around the world.
  • 00:25:03.291 --> 00:25:04.793
  • Jeffress: we can never regain the time that we've lost, but we
  • 00:25:07.195 --> 00:25:10.265
  • Can make good use of the time we have left.
  • 00:25:10.265 --> 00:25:13.535
  • That's the beauty of these five wise principles that we find in
  • 00:25:13.535 --> 00:25:17.606
  • God's word about managing our time.
  • 00:25:17.606 --> 00:25:20.709
  • Well, if you're a member of the working class, you likely devote
  • 00:25:20.709 --> 00:25:24.312
  • More hours of your life to work and getting there and back than
  • 00:25:24.312 --> 00:25:28.516
  • Any other area of life.
  • 00:25:28.516 --> 00:25:30.218
  • And next time, we're going to learn how to say goodbye to
  • 00:25:30.218 --> 00:25:32.887
  • Regrets about your career.
  • 00:25:32.887 --> 00:25:35.457
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
  • 00:25:35.457 --> 00:25:38.059
  • Series, "say goodbye to regret."
  • 00:25:38.059 --> 00:25:42.163
  • Jeffress: but when they get into their 30s, they move beyond
  • 00:25:42.163 --> 00:25:45.367
  • Survival to success, they wanna be successful.
  • 00:25:45.367 --> 00:25:48.637
  • And so, they try to start climbing the ladder to success.
  • 00:25:48.637 --> 00:25:52.273
  • But somewhere in their mid 40s to early 50s, people move beyond
  • 00:25:52.273 --> 00:25:57.612
  • Survival, or even success, to significance.
  • 00:25:57.612 --> 00:26:02.283
  • They wanna do something that matters, that makes a
  • 00:26:02.283 --> 00:26:05.353
  • Difference, that provides them with satisfaction.
  • 00:26:05.353 --> 00:26:09.257
  • And that's what our life work is all about.
  • 00:26:09.257 --> 00:26:12.827
  • Announcer: set your dvr and join us next time for the message,
  • 00:26:12.827 --> 00:26:15.964
  • "say goodbye to career regrets"
  • 00:26:15.964 --> 00:26:18.400
  • Here on "pathway to victory."
  • 00:26:18.400 --> 00:26:20.669
  • Announcer: experience the beauty of alaska with the
  • 00:26:23.471 --> 00:26:25.640
  • Pathway to victory family june 13-20, 2026.
  • 00:26:25.640 --> 00:26:30.612
  • Sail through the calm waters of the legendary inside passage
  • 00:26:30.612 --> 00:26:34.015
  • With dr. robert jeffress aboard holland america's
  • 00:26:34.015 --> 00:26:36.384
  • Magnificent koningsdam.
  • 00:26:36.384 --> 00:26:38.653
  • Be inspired by award-wining musician michael o'brien's
  • 00:26:38.653 --> 00:26:41.589
  • Powerful worship; share laughter with dennis swanberg,
  • 00:26:41.589 --> 00:26:44.993
  • America's minister of encouragement;
  • 00:26:44.993 --> 00:26:47.262
  • All while exploring frontier towns like juneau,
  • 00:26:47.262 --> 00:26:50.098
  • Skagway, and ketchikan.
  • 00:26:50.098 --> 00:26:52.167
  • Jeffress: there's something powerful about connecting with
  • 00:26:52.167 --> 00:26:54.469
  • God and fellow believers in the majesty
  • 00:26:54.469 --> 00:26:57.405
  • Of his untamed wilderness.
  • 00:26:57.405 --> 00:26:59.574
  • From the majestic glaciers to soaring eagles,
  • 00:26:59.574 --> 00:27:02.811
  • These moments in god's creation will deepen your
  • 00:27:02.811 --> 00:27:05.413
  • Faith in powerful ways.
  • 00:27:05.413 --> 00:27:07.549
  • Announcer: join us for a spiritual journey through some
  • 00:27:07.549 --> 00:27:09.818
  • Of creation's most spectacular displays.
  • 00:27:09.818 --> 00:27:12.554
  • Don't wait, our best cabins are going fast.
  • 00:27:12.554 --> 00:27:15.190
  • Secure your alaska adventure now.
  • 00:27:15.190 --> 00:27:17.559
  • Call ... or visit ptv.org.
  • 00:27:17.559 --> 00:27:17.559