There are many moments where we disqualify our life from being worthy to accomplish great things because of our perceived self image. We think about our many shortfalls and believe the falsity that our future successes are hindered because of our past failures. What we must quickly realize is that God never sees us for who we were, but rather He sees us for who we can be in Him. The Lord promises to wipe our slate clean and He has assured us time and again that with Him all things are possible. We don't have to think less of ourselves. We don't have to have a poor self image, but because of God's mercy and grace, we can dare to become great and live a significant life. (1 Samuel 16:7) (Psalm 51:10-12) (Mark 10:27)

When we think of those who have fallen short, the Bible is full of examples. There is King David whom God called "a man after His own heart" and still fell short when he committed adultery with Bathsheba, impregnated her and then conspired to have her husband Uriah killed. There is the apostle Peter whom Jesus called “The rock on which His church would be built” and yet Peter denied knowing the Lord Jesus three different times. There is the apostle Paul who prior to being converted was the chief persecutor of Christians. He sought the punishment or death of many believers including Stephen who was stoned to death while then named Saul approvingly watched. (2 Samuel 11:2-27) (Acts 13:22) (Matthew 26:69-75) (Acts 7:53)

What these examples show us is that no man is beyond God's redemption. Just as they fell short, they were also forgiven, redeemed and set on a better and higher path than they deserved. God's mercy and grace gives each of us more than we deserve. Knowing this we should be quick to stand up after we fall. We should be quick to give ourselves the benefit of the doubt and see that we can be used in a significant way. Never shortchange your life and think that it is not worthy of becoming better. With God all things are possible so be encouraged to try again, to dream again, to reach forth again and be all that you were created to be. (Psalm 103:8-14) (Psalm 34:11-19) (Psalm 40:1-5)

I hope this message inspires and challenges your heart to see that no matter what you have been through you can still rise higher and become better no matter any past mistakes.


MY OLD CAR

Almost 20 years ago when I was still a college student I had an old car that I jokingly named Goliath because of its huge size. This car was older than I was at the time and drank more gas than a dozen pick-up trucks. It had rotted wiring that my dad had to replace more than once. The windshield wipers were broke. The battery died often. The radio didn’t work and I only had one, scratchy cassette for the tape player. It often took quite a while to start and would backfire loud enough to be heard in the next county. My friends and teachers would often joke that they noticed buzzards circling my car when I was in class. Still, this was the car I depended on to commute long distances everyday and more often than not it got me there. 

In a lot of ways too this car was a lot like life. The more you complained about it the worse it got. If I would complain about the gas mileage one of the bald tires would blow out. If I would grouch about the sputtering engine it would start raining and I would be straining to see through the water all the way home. If I griped about not having a radio the next time the engine would not start at all. But, when I laughed about and accepted all of Goliath’s problems it would run for weeks without giving me any trouble at all. I would pat its steering wheel with love and sing along to my old cassette tape as I drove home in joy. God taught me a lot about life with that car. 

My giant, old, beat-up car showed me that you have to appreciate what God gives you in this life. You have to rejoice in the good and grow stronger and more loving from the bad. You have to see that worrying and complaining only add to your misery and realize that you can select laughter, love and joy instead. You have to reach a point where you take whatever life gives you and use it to make this world a better, happier, and more loving place. You have to see that even if you start out driving a piece of junk in this life, God is still going to make it a glorious ride. 

By Joseph J. Mazzella


Read and meditate on these scriptures:

Psalm 103:10-14 “He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear Him. For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust.”

Psalm 37:23-27 “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and He delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with His hand. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed. Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.”

Psalm 1:1-3 “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in His law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

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