Failing Forward
Philippians 3:12-14
Satan delights in using Fear of failure on the front end and Beating us up with failure on the back end
Paul’s Formula for Dealing with Failure
1. Forgetting what lies behind
Paul remembered his failures, but he chose to no longer be controlled by his failures
How We View Our Failures
- They are an inevitable part of being human
- Failure is an event, not a person
- Failure is a moment, not a monument
- Failure is a bend in the road, not the end of the road
Positively Dealing With Our Failures
- Honestly take them to God
- Own up to your part in the failure
- Accept His forgiveness
- Clear up any barriers between yourself and others
2. Reach forward to what lies ahead
- Realize that God uses “Cracked Pots”
“When God forgives, He forgets. He is not only willing, but pleased to use any vessel- just as long as it is clean today.” Chuck Swindoll
- Focus on your relationship with God
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
- Learn from the past, move forward toward the future
“Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.” Henry Ford
Key Questions:
1. What can I Learn from this?
2. What is the Opportunity in the midst of this circumstance or situation?
- Harness the power of transformational relationships
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24–25)
“Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.” Theodore Roosevelt
Failure is not optional, it is inevitable. The only question is, “How will we respond?”
Making It Personal:
- Owning and admitting my failure to live as God deserves and desires is foundational to being in a right relationship with God. Have you personally admitted your sin, trusted in Christ’s provision through the cross and surrendered your life to his rule and reign?
- In what ways has the fear of failure been keeping you from pursuing God’s best for your life?
- Is there a failure from your past that you are still allowing to define your present and shape your future? What is God calling you to do with that failure today?
- As you enter into a brand new year, how will you prepare to deal with the inevitable failures that will be a part of your journey?
- In addition to God, is there anyone that you need to reach out to in order to “own a failure” and seek out forgiveness and reconciliation?