Morning Devotional:
How’s that New Year’s resolution going?
So I have to be honest. I actually had a New Year’s resolution this year and yes, I said “had” because I already broke it. Surprised? I’m not. I was never very good at resolutions and I surprised myself by deciding to make one this year.
I thought I was doing pretty well with it, too. I was confident, I was doing all the right things to keep it and I was on track. All it took was one bad decision and bam! Failure and guilt and shame came rushing in.
I could have crumbled in that moment and gave up but a word from the scriptures gave me some much needed encouragement last night. It was Proverbs 24:16 – “For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, but the wicked stumble in time of calamity.”
Notice that God says, “a righteous man falls seven times.” Even the person who wants to do the right thing messes up! Not just once or twice either, but seven times – and even more than that.
When we miss the mark, God doesn’t tell us to give up. He does the opposite by giving us the grace to start over. Don’t stay in defeat mode. When you fall, get back up and try again.
– Beth
The Burning Question:
What’s your favorite worship song right now?
Bible Quiz:
Question: What prophet told the people to mourn in sackcloth like a young woman bewailing her lost fiancee?
Answer: Joel (Joel 1:8)
Storytime: I missed the Memo!