Wednesday, 12 February 2014

TODAY'S WORD 12 FEB 2014: HANDLING FAILURE



2 Cor. 4:7-9,2 Cor. 11:24-30. How a person handles failure can mean the difference between living a life of victory or living a life filled with bitterness, hostility and anger.How do you work through failure? Do you believe that failure is not final and failure has a purpose?

From the above text, Apostle Paul experienced failure after failure, but he came through every failure with victory. All of us can learn from Paul’s experiences to help us learn how to handle failure.
When you go through failures what are your first questions? “Why are people doing this to me?” “Why is God allowing this to happen to me?” Or you may think: “I have been keeping my prayer life up to date and I have been walking with the Lord and obedient to His Word so why should this happen to me now?”
Better questions to ask might be: “What can I learn through this experience?” “What is God teaching me through this failure?”

From the life of the Apostle Paul we can learn helpful lessons on how to handle failure.

I. Failure is common to all. At various stages of our lives we all experience different kinds of failure. Some failures are out of our control. When I try something that doesn’t work out I choose to look at  
the experience, not as a failure, but simply it didn’t work so I’ll try something else.

II. God is Interested in How You Respond to Failure. What you call failure God may call a window of opportunity for learning. In times of failure and change:
         You may be given a new opportunity
          A new open door
         Chance to more out of your comfort Zone
         Respond in love and good will

III. Failure Pushes you toward Higher Goals.  Failures are a blessing when they push you toward higher goals. Paul stated in Philippians 3:13-14

How you handle failure is critical to your life today and in the future. A common truth is that everyone experiences some kind of failure and change. To God the important truth is how you respond to failure and change. Failure is a blessing if it pushes you to humble yourself before the Lord and begin to live in the light of eternity.

When experiencing failure or change what can you do? From the experiences of the Apostle Paul what can you resolve to do? Take a few moments in silent prayer and then write your resolve

Peace be unto you

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