Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Friday, August 5, 2016

"For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again…."¹

Many years ago, in much younger days, I used to work in construction. On a construction site in which I was in charge I made what to me was a whopping error and was scared to death to tell my boss. Fortunately for me when I did tell him, he simply said, "Dick, the man who never made a mistake never made anything!"

What a relief it was to know my "error" was forgiven! Then we set about to correct my mistake.

I think it was the late Robert Schuller who said, "A high jumper never knows how high he can jump until he reaches a failure point." That's a good point, for we too will never know how high we can reach in fulfilling our personal goals until we also reach a failure point.

In fact, we probably learn a lot more through our failures than we do through our successes. The important thing when we fail is to get up, learn from our mistake, and go on to achieve better things. As another has said, "Not failure, but low aim is crime."

I appreciate the words of the poet who said,
I would rather stumble a thousand times
Attempting to reach a goal,
Than to sit in a crowd
In my weather-proof shroud,
A shriveled and self-satisfied soul.
I would rather be doing and daring
All of my error-filled days,
Than watching and waiting, and dying
Snug in my perfect ways.
I would rather wonder and blunder,
Stumbling blindly ahead,
Than for safety's sake
Lest I make a mistake
Be sure, be safe, be dead.²

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, help me to see Your plan and purpose for my life, and with Your help, make a total commitment to fulfilling it. Help me to learn from my mistakes and never give up. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus's name, amen."

1. Proverbs 24:16 (NIV).
2. Author Unknown

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