We should never allow the setbacks of life to keep us stagnant and immobile, but more importantly we should never allow the fear of failure to keep us from even trying to pursue the dreams and aspirations that are within our hearts. Many times people set out on their path towards success and because they stumbled and fell one too many times, they didn't believe that victory would be theirs and instead of dusting themselves off and trying again, they instead stood in their defeat. What we must realize and understand is that success will not always be reached on our first try. There are many indications that say we will fail many times before we reach success, but what we must understand is that in each failing stage we become better, wiser and stronger than we were before we failed. (Isaiah 59:19) (Proverbs 24:16)

The blessings of failure are many. Someone may call that an oxymoron; how can a failure be a blessing? I believe it is because it is in our failures that we learn the lessons that we couldn't have learned otherwise. We learn perseverance that was needed in order for us to overcome. And to me most importantly we learn resolve that says we will not give up until we grasp what we first set out for. A no give up attitude is what we should always have. A faith that is so unwavering that discouragement will have no place in our lives is what we should all hold fast to. (Psalm 138:8) (Job 23:10-12)

When we say with Jesus “All things are possible to those who believe”, we are confessing the Lord's promises. When we say “...all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”, we are saying that the temporary trials and tribulations will be to our benefit in the end. A faith filled heart is unbreakable and God's promises are too powerful to dissuade us from believing that we are meant for mediocrity. (Mark 9:23) (Romans 8:28)

No matter what the obstacle may be that is in your path whether physical, financial or spiritual, I want you to gird yourself up and believe God's promises over your life. See the many times that God calls you an overcomer, blessed, above only and not beneath, the head and not the tail, the lender and not the borrower. Believe in yourself again as God believes in you. Don't settle in the place where you have failed, but stand up again believing for a new beginning. The Lord who loves you, died for you and calls you His beloved child wishes for you to rise above every obstacle and stand at the point of victory. (Deuteronomy 28:12-13)

I hope this message inspires and challenges your heart to not give up when you stumble and fall, but rather get back up and keep trying until you reach your victory.


THE GUTS TO FAIL

Someone quipped that a classified newspaper ad read: “For sale. Parachute. Only used once, never opened, small stain.”

I realize that we cannot afford to fail in some endeavors. But I also know that we cannot afford Not to fail in most of what we do. Unfortunately, too many of us live by the motto: If at first you don't succeed, don't admit that you tried. Why? We often feel ashamed or embarrassed when we fall flat.

In his book The Courage To Fail, Art Mortell tells about a conversation he had with baseball's Lou Brock. It took place when Brock held the record for stolen bases. He was about 35 years old at the time and his days as a professional player were winding down. Brock was talking about why he successfully stole more bases than younger, faster players.

“When you start out in baseball,” Brock said, “you're young and you have the speed and reflexes. However, when you try to steal second base and you get thrown out, it's a long walk back to the dugout, with 40,000 fans watching you. When you reach my age, you come to understand that records are not set by being the quickest, but by the willingness to look bad in the eyes of others.”

There are other ways to avoid failure throughout life: 

Never ask anyone out. There will be no possibility of rejection and embarrassment. 

Never ask for a promotion. That way you will not risk the humiliation of being turned down. 

Never go back to school. You cannot fail a class you do not take. 

Never change careers. You'll never fail at something you never try. 

Never try anything you've never done before. 

If success is just avoiding failure, I don't want it. But if success is about pursuing a passion or finding the guts to risk in order to experience life fully, then I want it. Even if it means a lot of long walks back to the dugout while everyone is watching. 

By Steve Goodier


Read and meditate on these scriptures:

2 Corinthians 12:8-10 “For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

Hebrews 12:1-3 “...Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the Joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.”

Jeremiah 29:11-13 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon Me, and ye shall go and pray unto Me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.”

Philippians 3:13-14 “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible. 


Today's Selected Poem: HARD TIMES
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem69.htm

Today's Selected Testimony: HE HAS A PURPOSE FOR US
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony153.htm


In Christ’s Service,

Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry