Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Tuesday, July 11, 2017

"But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."¹

Motivational speakers ask the question, "What would you like to do if you knew for certain that you couldn't fail?" Good question. I'm sure that many a life's dream, hope, and/or ambition is lost because of the fear of failure.

Perhaps a better question to ask is: "So what if you do fail?" What is the worst thing that could happen? Ninety-nine percent of the time you could learn from the experience and be better qualified to try again. I doubt if there is anyone who has succeeded in fulfilling their life's dream and goals who hasn't experienced failure—or even many failures before they succeeded.

What we need to realize is that there is no shame in failure. As another has said, "Low aim, not failure, is a 'crime.'" In fact, failure can be our greatest teacher. It's only as we are willing to risk failure that we can ever succeed and become a true winner. Remember, too, that failure is an event not a person. The only real failure is not to get up and keep trying one more time than we fall or get knocked down. In baseball it may be strike three and you're out. Not so for a successful life where it is:

     Strike Three and You're In!

     We only succeed when
     we're willing to fail;
     We only score goals when
     we're willing to be tackled;
     We only hit home runs when
     we're willing to strike out;
     And we only win when
     we're willing to risk failing.

     Consider the high jumper who
     only discovers how high he can jump
     when he reaches his failure point.
     Consider Babe Ruth, too,
     the year he broke the world record
     for hitting the most home runs,
     he also broke the record
     for scoring the most strike-outs!

     Success, however exhilarating,
     doesn't teach one how to be a winner.
     In fact, failure is the greatest teacher
     to help one win in the game of life.
     So, if you want to hit home runs,
     stand at the plate, start swinging,
     be willing to strike out –
     and begin winning!

                        – Dick Innes
                        © Copyright 2000 Dick Innes

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, help me to discover my God-given life purpose and goal and pursue it with all my heart and strength—and never give up—knowing that failures are a part of the learning experience. Help me to remember, too, regarding any goal/purpose that is Your will for my life, that with Your help there is always a way to achieve it. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV).
Note: For more poems by Dick go to http://tinyurl.com/poems-rwi.

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