4:242 – Dust Yourself Off and Keep Going!

#faithbites #faithjourney dust

Setting

This morning I posted my disgust with myself about my behavior yesterday. I was angry, frustrated, and let it show. It was a poor example for my wife and for my children. This isn’t who I am. Too often I push myself to just keep swimming when I should rest. But, as many of you said, I am human. I need to stand up, dust myself off, and keep going.

While Christ forgives us, we need to forgive ourselves. After we’ve apologized, it’s time to let it go. We have work to do and God is there to help.

Today’s Questions: How do you forgive yourself? Do you dust yourself off and start going again? What can you do to let it go and move on?

Scripture

• 1 Corinthians 9:24 – Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
• 2 Timothy 1:7 – For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
• Galatians 6:9 – And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Reflection

I like the analogy of running a race. Life isn’t a sprint. Even long-distance endurance runners trip, fall and have issues along the race. They don’t stop and give up. They stand up, dust off, and keep running. When the race is over, they think about what happened and how not to do it again next time.

We need to run as if only the person who wins gets the price. Jesus is our price and makes sure we will get it. We just have to not give up.

Too often in our culture, if you fall down, you are out. One wrong and you are done with. Jesus forgives us no matter what. He wants us to be strong and gives us power and love. He also gives us self-discipline. That self-discipline doesn’t mean we won’t make mistakes but that we can admit them, correct, and move on. It’s a hard thing to do but we can do it with God’s help.

As we close, remember that your mistakes don’t define you. You are defined by how you make a mistake, fix it, apologize, dust yourself off, and keep going.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, help us in our failures. We pray for forgiveness for our mistakes and ask you to help us forgive ourselves. Be with us, guide us, and let us dust ourselves off when we fall. We know you love us and have great plans for us, help us when we stumble. In your name, Amen.