Do you have to fail?

Friday, November 11

Do You Hate To Fail?
By: Pastor Todd Crofford 

 
This past Sunday, the opening line of my sermon was, “I hate to fail!” 

Well, nothing has changed in five days, but that doesn’t mean that failure cannot be very useful in my life and yours. It is inevitable, and it is not fun, but we get to choose if our failures become a catalyst to quit or get better.

Ok, quick quiz. Who invented the lightbulb? 

I bet you knew it was Thomas Edison, didn’t you? He was considered one of the most creative innovators in our nation’s history.  One key to his success was always doing what John Maxwell calls “failing forward.” He used past experiences to see what had been learned and then applied it in the future.

Thousands of years before Edison was exploding lightbulb prototypes or John Maxwell was coining phrases, Paul described his personal outlook this way. “One thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14) NIV

I can get really good at focusing on my shortcomings and mess-ups until I wallow, but God wants me to follow.  I must follow him to what is next, learning as I go to be more like him.  

Today you are free to take a quick inventory of your recent failure.  If it requires repentance, do it- and then get on to what honors God next- a day older and that much wiser.