How often do you make mistakes? Hopefully, not as often as you used to, but if you are human, it still happens from time to time. When you do mess up, who is your biggest critic? I often see two different scenarios. When our mistakes are obvious, it can be easy for others to blame us for the mistakes they see, and pattern may develop in what co-workers or family members say to us. If the mistake are less obvious, then we may tend to be more self-critical and beat ourselves up for the mistakes we should not have made. Some people also tend to blame others for the messes they make, which is not a good trend and leads to a limited self-awareness. Regardless of whether the mistake are little or life-changing, how we handle them says a lot about our character and outlook on what happens in the future. How many mistakes have you made this past week?
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26
In a household with three young children, my wife and I play the constant referee when conflicts, fights, and arguments break out. Our two youngest may be playing perfectly together for an hour and within minutes a disagreement can lead to hurt feelings and tears. We show them how to use their words to work out disagreements, but that doesn’t always work several times on some days. We also teach them to ask for forgiveness, say why they were upset, and work out solutions going forward. These are the same things we should be doing when we intentionally or unintentionally hurt others, but it seems less frequent in the adult world when pride keeps us from doing what is most healing in relationships. Can you tell the difference in your relationships where there is unforgiveness versus having a clean and honest outlook?
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
Who has let you down the most in your life? Have you made attempts to forgive them either in person or in your heart. Often those who have hurt us most don’t even realize the degree they have done so. When Peter denied Jesus three times and realized what he had done when the rooster crowed, he was upset at what he had done. Though he was prideful, when Jesus offered him a second chance and asked him to feed his sheep, he desired that forgiveness and love that Jesus provided him. Do you ever feel let down by God, or that you have failed Him? Do you go to him for forgiveness as readily as you do others in your life? Fortunately, even with failures, there can be forgiveness and new opportunities to do it right again. May you be slow to anger and quick to forgive others and even yourself on a daily basis.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Yours in Christ,
Clark
