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Topic: Failure (03/01/04)
TITLE: Ruts By L.M. Lee 03/04/04 |
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The deep pitted ruts I have etched into the landscape of my life by repeated failures is the greatest cause of angst in my life. The invisible hand that seems to plot my course and direct me back into those paths seems too powerful go push away. I never see the pit, until I have already fallen in it.
Why is that? Why do I continually set myself up for failure?
First, I am suffering from the sins of previous generations. Learning to recongize inherited behavior problems is the first key to freedom. Acknowledging that my parents failed, forgiving them and moving on is hard, but necessary.
Second, realizing that "De Nile" isn't a just river in Egypt. Too often my own pride would blind me to my own flaws that were obvious to everyone. Pride has so many masks to hide behind. Ripping of its disguise and exposing it to the light is the quickest way to deal with it. Satan can't hold me in bondage to what I have openly confessed. It is only those things I try to hide and cover up that he can use to trick me.
Third, fully receiving the love, grace and mercy the Father has for me. For so long when I heard truth about myself, it only sounded like condemnation, judgment and criticism. When I began to understand that the Father loves me, accepts me and approves of me, I began to let down those defenses that prevented me from receiving the healing and freedom I needed.
Failures, yes they are inevidable. Failures can be a sign of progress. It is only when I am moving out of my stagnation do I open myself up to the possibilty of defeat.
But I also have a 50-50 chance of succeeding!
Like Thomas A. Edison, it may have taken 1000 failures before he invented the light bulb...but he did!
"for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again,..." Proverbs 24:16
Failures are only fatal, if I decide to stop trying.