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Rebuilding Determination
February 15, 2008 |
Compulsive behavior destroys one’s sense of worth. It takes a strong willpower to rebuild self-esteem.
Failure can challenge us to try again or smash our self-worth. It can create determination or erode what resolve we have. We can use the failure to dig into our character and pull out strength, or lose all hope. The easy way is to give up. We stop trying so we won’t get hurt again. All of your energy is sapped. We feel hopeless. But it is at this very point where victory is won. This is the point of faith where we can draw on the deepest strength and use it to build the determination to try again.
The effect of failure distorts our thinking. It is like entering a dark tunnel. We can’t see our goals or even remember why they were important. We tell ourselves, “so what, it never really mattered.” But, we are lying to ourselves. Don’t let yourself get away with it. Remind yourself of the value of your goals. Build desire and enthusiasm. Tell yourself why it is important. Don’t get mad at you; get mad at the behavior. Where is your fighting spirit? Are you going to sit back and take it? Are you going to let a stupid little failure push you around? You’re tougher than that!
Write out your goals and what you want to accomplish. Enthuse yourself about your goals by visualizing you achieving them. Make achieving them feel pleasurable. See the things that will tempt you from your goals and create a feeling of revulsion as you think of them. Spend time building the desire to achieve.
Biblical Perspective
We spend so much of our life on the little useless details. We easily become sidetracked. We forget what our goals are and lose enthusiasm. Put your energy toward what is important. You need to invest time in encouraging yourself to move forward. When you feel like giving up, remember where you are going and why you are going there. And most importantly, pick your goals in prayer and humility before God, for it is only by His hand that they can be reached. Remember, What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? (Matthew 16:26)
Thou shalt not eat cookies. Thou shalt not eat ice cream. Thou shalt not eat peanut butter cups. And when you do, a big mean god up in heaven shakes his head with disgust. “Look at the failure I’ve made.”
But if you failed, God failed because He made you. But God didn’t fail. Everything in nature is unique including you, and nothing is perfect. Even the most perfect orchid is not perfect, and neither is anyone here on earth. God does not make us imperfect. He makes us unique. So it is time to give yourself the privilege of making mistakes and loving yourself in spite of them.
The message of Christ is forgiveness; we can never meet the standard required to get into Heaven, so He met it for us on the cross. We are accepted as we are; all we are asked to do is try. We think of repentance as a sad sinner before an angry god, but repentance is simply living with the desire to be right with Him. Repentance is feeling bad about hurting God and wanting to do it His way.
“I’m sorry God. I made a mistake. What I did was wrong. I really want to change. Please help me. Lord, I love you.”
A prayer like that puts us in a position where we are ready to change. “The action was wrong, but I know you love me and I do want to change.”
The Bible holds out the highest calling as a challenge: Be holy, because I am holy. (1 Peter 1:16) Wow! You can’t get much higher than that. But it is not a standard. If you tried to live up to that as a standard, you’d fail every three nano seconds. But all we are asked to do is to try with all our hearts. Trying is the goal.
God is proud of you. He is looking down, smiling with love. Encouragement sparkles in His eyes. He looks upon one whom He dearly loves. God can’t hate us. He loves us too much. He loves you no matter what sin you commit. His arms of welcome are always open.
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.
Galatians 5:24
All sin is a test of loyalty to God. We are constantly forced to choose between self-gratification and living a disciplined spiritual life. This is the challenge of God. What are you willing to give up? Are you willing to put an end to your selfish nature that your godly qualities may shine like a star in the heavens? He has many gifts for those who overcome.
To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on His throne.
Revelation 3:21
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