"So when Satan reminds you that you failed,
you remind him that I have paid for it all." ~ Jesus
This morning I was listening to an Encounter podcast called, "Faith in Walking Well." The question posed by the narrator was: "What feelings do you have when you fall down?" I pondered the suggested feelings of embarrassment or frustration, but those didn't quite resonate with me. Anger, that's what I feel. When I fall or bang my shin, which happened not too long ago, I feel angry with myself. Then I realized I feel angry with myself whenever I mess up or fail. Immediately, several recent goof-ups paraded across my memory.
Why do I feel angry when I fail?
The temptation is to let the enemy use my minor (or major) stumblings to place my focus back on myself and my inability to walk perfectly. Lies! I don't have to accept or give into the lie that I have to be perfect to receive Jesus' and Father God's approval.
Photo by Holger Link on Unsplash
The truth is I am whole and righteous because Jesus paid it all. I heard, "So when Satan reminds you that you failed, you remind him that I have paid for it all." ~Jesus
A different response
As I thanked Jesus for His truth, a memory of me falling down when I was a teenager popped in my mind. I distinctly remember laughing when it happened. I wasn't taking myself too seriously (yet?). I asked Jesus, "How do I laugh at failures instead of getting angry?"
The answer came quickly. Jesus showed me a picture of me following Him up a hill and stumbling before landing in the dirt. I laughed. He laughed, squatted down, dusted me off while laughing with me and smiling kindly. He lovingly and jokingly said, "Let's go silly." I got up smiling and we went on.
Yes! That's how I want to live! Jesus already paid for it all. Why am I holding onto incidents of failing or focussing on what's not right? I'm choosing to walk with the faith to walk well…regardless of tumbles in the dirt. Want to join me?
Off to follow Jesus...
