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Failure Turned Inside Out

David, the psalmist, prayed: "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."¹

You sit with your head in your hands thinking you're a total failure. "I've blown it again," you mutter to yourself in despair. We begin to feel discouraged, feeling like we are never going to be able to get it right. But, hold it right there! History is filled with examples of men and women who got it wrong numerous times, before getting it right. The important thing is they never gave up, nor should we!

Think, too, of King David in the Bible. He blew it big time. He not only committed adultery with Bathsheba and got her pregnant, but had her husband killed and took her as another wife. When he admitted his failure, God forgave him and gave him another chance. In fact, Bathsheba became the mother of King Solomon through whose line Jesus Christ came.

And remember Paul the apostle, he was so opposed to Christianity that he was running around having Christians killed when God got ahold of him and turned his life around and used him in an incredible way.

God wants to turn our life around too when we fail. So, if you feel like giving up, don't. Remember failure is an event, not a person. Now is the time to give God a chance. It starts with being honest with yourself, with a trusted friend, and with God—admitting how and where you've failed and asking God to forgive you and to help you.

For real encouragement, read all of Psalm 51. And listen to these words also written by David: "There was a time when I wouldn't admit what a sinner I was. But my dishonesty made me miserable and filled my days with frustration. All day and all night your hand was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water on a sunny day until I finally admitted all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide them. I said to myself, 'I will confess them to the Lord.' and you forgave me! All my guilt is gone."²

What a gracious, loving, and forgiving God we have.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please be merciful to me a sinner. I confess all my sins (name the ones you've never confessed before) to you. Have mercy on me and forgive me. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Psalm 51:10.
2. Psalm 32:3-5 (TLB)(NLT).