The truth about failure

 

How do we respond to failure?

What kind of mindset do we adopt after we fail?

How we respond and the kind of mindset we should have when failure comes is so important

if we are going to grow and learn.

There is a train of thought out there that goes along the lines of, failing makes you a failure.

But is that true? Do our failures make us failures?

No it is not true. As long as we live on this earth we will have to deal with failure,

we will make mistakes, but those things do not need to dictate who we are as people or

what we are going to accomplish.

 

One of the most important questions we need to ask is, how does Jesus see us even though we

fail and make mistakes?

For the answer to that question we are going to look at Peter.

As you know he was a disciple of the Lord and loved him much. But one day before Jesus was

to be crucified, Peter was told he would deny the Lord.

Peter obviously denied it and declared his devotion and that he was ready to die with the Lord.

But as we all know Peter denied the Lord. He messed up big time. He failed Jesus and it seemed

like all was lost. How can anyone bounce back from that?

Imagine the headline in the newspapers the next day,

PETER DENIES JESUS!!

 

But let’s focus our attention on an interesting passage of scripture,

 

“Simon, Simon, satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you,

Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

Luke 22:31

 

Jesus knew Peter would deny Him!

But instead of abandoning him or washing His hands of him, Jesus prayed for him and encouraged him.

Peter’s failure did not change the way Jesus saw him. It did not change the Lord’s plans for his life.

And this is important for us to understand. Even when you fail and make mistakes the Lord is with you.

He hasn’t abandoned or disowned you. Failure doesn’t mean the end of you.

It wasn’t the end of Peter.

 

It seemed like Peter’s story was over when he failed but we all know how powerfully he was used

in the creation of the early church. He was instrumental in the building of it.

And that’s how good the Lord is. Don’t allow your failures and mistakes to stop you in your tracks.

We are to grow and learn from our failures but never to stop and die.

Jesus has amazing things in store for you in the midst of failures. So because you are a son and daughter

of God you are not a failure but a victor and that’s the best news! 

 

On one last note, if you would like to get a copy of my devotional, click here. 

Blessings to you friends!

 

Rolain

 

What the past teaches.

The past has not been easy. It’s been difficult and at the time it was hard to make sense of all that was

happening. But the past as difficult as it was revealed an important truth, a truth that helped me face

the storms and trials of today.

 

As crazy as the past has been I am still here. When I was going through it all with no idea of how things were

going to turn out God carried me through it. No matter how dark things got God always carried

me through and continues to.

 

The lesson is this; If God could deliver me back then, He will do it again today. 

 

Learn a lesson from the past. The Lord will be there for you as He was back then. Whatever storm you in

now, know that God will deliver you like He did before. Look at all the things He has brought you through

and be at peace knowing He will do it again and again.

 

Sometimes we go through some really intense times and think this is the time when our luck runs out but

listen to me, it won’t happen. God will never let you down no matter how many times the enemy tries to

destroy you.  he won’t win. And that’s the lesson the past teaches.

God will always be victorious. He will always bring you through the darkness.

 

Bless you, friends.

 

Rolain

It’s time to move…..

Life is constantly teaching us stuff and to grow we need to learn what we are being taught.

Unfortunately there is a lesson I had to relearn this year (this week to be more precise) that I ignored

last year. It’s so frustrating because the lesson had a financial cost. That really got me thinking though.

How many lessons have we ignored that keep coming back but we just don’t learn. For whatever reason

we make a decision to do nothing.

But YAH wants us to learn the lessons that come our way. Those lessons once learned will make us grow.

 

I am reminded of the Israelites. They too didn’t learn their lesson and because they didn’t, they had to go

round the same mountain.

 

“And the Lord spoke to me [Moses], saying, 

You have roamed around this mountain country long enough; turn northward.”

Deuteronomy 2:3

 

It’s time to stop going round the same mountain. It’s time we start learning the lessons we are supposed

to learn. I am tired of going round the same mountain. I want to grow, I want to move.

I don’t learn because it’s hard at times, or because of laziness and so on and so on….

But that needs to stop.

It’s time to move!

 

ACT ON IT – What lessons have you refused to learn because they are difficult? 

Ask the Lord to show you the most critical lesson you need to learn so you can grow.

 

Bless you friends

 

Rolain

 

 

 

In trouble, he slept like a baby……..!

Everyone faces trouble. Everyone faces storms and trials  and testing in their lives. That is one thing we cannot escape. I had a really bad day today. One of those days where you want to just throw in the towel. It really has been a crazy day. This is the thing though, troubles and problems are a part of life and my job is to learn to cope, learn to trust God in the midst of confusion and hopelessness……So in the midst of all that I read a pretty amazing story. The story was about Peter when he was arrested by Herod. The word says,

All the time that Peter was under heavy guard in the jail house, the church prayed for him most strenuously.

Then the time came for Herod to bring him out for the kill. That night, even though shackled to two soldiers, one on either side, Peter slept like a baby. And there were guards at the door keeping their eyes on the place. Herod was taking no chances!    Acts 12: 5, 6

I could not believe what I read. Peter was surrounded by guards and was even shackled to the guards. He was in very real trouble. He was going to die the next day but the word says he slept like a baby! He never complained or worried. He was not fearful, instead he slept like a baby. I would of being freaking out if I was in his shoes. Herod had doubled the guards. He was not taking any chances.

I want to have that same kind of attitude. Peter was in perfect peace. James had just being killed but that never phased Peter. His trust was in the Lord. His faith in God was deep, and unshakable. He was in a storm but he knew who was watching over him. When the storms of life come how do you respond? When trouble comes what thoughts come to mind? Let us  learn from Peter. I want to walk in the kind of peace he walked in. The fact that he wasn’t in fear showed where his faith was at. Your response to situations determine where your faith is at.

The lesson for me is, rely on God. In the midst of pain and confusion trust Him. Let the peace of God reign. Remember Peter……….

Rolain

Finding Peace In The Storm.

I believe a storm is either coming your way or you in a storm right now or one has just passed!! The crazy thing about this situation is, storms are vital for growth. If you are to become all God has for you then you need storms, we ALL need storms! We don’t pray for storms to come but we pray that we will learn what we are supposed to learn and see what we are supposed to see and grow from it. With that said, how are we supposed to carry ourselves in a storm? Storms will always come but how do we deal with them? Your attitude determines everything when you are in a storm. So it is important what kind of attitude you have. It will determine if you are victorious or if you fail.
Proverbs 15:15 says,
All the days of the desponding and afflicted are made evil [by anxious thoughts and forebodings], but he who has a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of circumstances].
The word foreboding is an interesting word because it implies a feeling of coming evil. Predicting evil in your life is not being realistic and it is not God’s way. In fact that is the type of attitude that will stop your breakthrough in the midst of the storm. Anxious thoughts and forebodings are short circuiting your growth! The right attitude is key when you are in a storm.
King David is a great example of what your attitude should be like in the midst of a storm. In Psalm 57 we are given a lot of insight into King David’s attitude. This psalm was written when King David was fleeing from Saul and he was hiding in a cave!! He was in a really bad place. King Saul was trying to kill him and he was hiding in a cave! Here are a few things that I see:

– The first thing to note is King David doesn’t ask for the death of his enemy. He doesn’t complain and grumble about why he is where he is. Instead he looks to God. This is what he says,
Be merciful and gracious to me, O God, for my soul takes refuge and shelter and confidence in You; yes, in the shadow of Your wings will I take refuge and be confident until calamities and destructive storms are passed. Psalms 57:1

Where are you focused during a storm? Are you panicking and fretting? God wants you to look to Him. He is the Lord over your storm. He is in control and I think King David knew that.

– The other thing to note is the way he spoke. In the midst of the storm, running away from Saul who was trying to kill him, hiding away in a dark cold cave he was speaking life over his situation!!! Speaking about God he says,
He will send from heaven and save me from the slanders and reproaches of him who would trample me down or swallow me up, and He will put him to shame.
Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! God will send forth His mercy and loving-kindness and His truth and faithfulness. Psalms 57:3

What is coming out of your mouth during the storm? King David spoke the answer, He spoke God!! Are you speaking more death by complaining and whining or are you speaking God into your situation?? That is something to think about.

– The next point is so important. King David praised God. There is something powerful when we praise God. King David was a worshiper and we need to learn to praise God when we are in a storm. Praising God puts things in the right perspective. Praising God will help you focus on the right thing, God!

Be exalted, O God,above the heavens! Let Your glory be over all the earth!
Psalms 57:5

In the midst of the storms of life we need to worship God. As we do that we magnify God in our lives. Our troubles will seem smaller against a Great and Mighty God because they are! God is bigger than any problem we will ever face!!

– The last thing I would like to highlight is where his heart is at. King David had his heart fixed on God and that needs to be the same for us. In the midst of the storm King David’s heart was fixed on God. It was not focused on what was happening around him but on God!

My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is steadfast and confident! I will sing and make melody. Psalms 57:7

Is your heart fixed on God? Have you made  decision to focus on God? It so hard to focus on God when everything is going crazy around you. I know, I have been there. We need to make a decision to focus on God. Like I said, our attitude in the midst of a storm determines everything!

God wants us to grow and become more like Him. Will you embrace the storms of life or run away from them? It’s your decision….

Rolain

Are You Full or Hungry???

This is a new thing I am going to do. I will be jotting down thoughts that I have had for the day. There are thoughts that I know I should share but I don’t because I don’t have an avenue to do it, but that changes from today. Hope you enjoy them and I hope they inspire you!!!!!

 

The full man has no use for honey, but to the man in need of food every bitter thing is sweet.   Proverbs 27:7

 

Principle:  The word is showing us how important it is to live a life that is hungry. Hungry to grow, and hungry to learn. Once you get to a place that says, I have arrived you are in trouble! The full man will turn down even the best opportunities because he is “full”!!! Are you “full”?

 

When you are hungry you will begin to see things other people don’t normally see. When you are hungry you will do things that seem out of the ordinary to other people. When you are hungry nothing can stop you from reaching your goal…..

Which person do you want to be like, the man who is full or the hungry person? The decision is all yours…..!

Rolain