Week 6: day 4
DEFINING MOMENTS
In life, once you become aware of your existence and its effect on others, you are open to defining moments where experiences, opinions and mistakes start to establish judgements about who you are.
However, once you become born again, you realize that who you are is defined by who God is not where you come from, what you have done nor who the world has proclaimed you are.
Philippians 3:13-14, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
Today, our focus is on MISTAKES.
Your mistakes do not define you. You are not your mistakes. Infact, you define your mistakes by how you receive them. What do you make of your mistakes? Do they become lessons you use in stepping forward or they are wells you dwell in?
What are mistakes?
These are Momentary foolishness, actions from a place of ignorance and a choice made based on lack of insight or foresight.
Knowing that in our perfection in Christ, there is the process of maturity, helps you accept that there will be times you are ignorant.
There is a time gap between when you do not know and when you do know - mistakes mostly exists in these gaps. Know how to learn fast from these opportune moments. This, however, isn't a place of dwelling but moment of slips.
So How can we be quick to acknowledge mistakes, accept corrections and grow?
2 Timothy 3:16-17
Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way. Through the Word, we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.
Know your identity is certain in Him.
Your identity is grafted in who God is and not who the mirror (the physical world, experiences, public opinion) says you are. 2Corinthians 5:17. In Christ, you are.
Stop working your way backwards. What do I mean? Know the structure of your gift. Your life is in responsive obedience to God not God in responsive obedience to you. Everything is already in place for you, stop beating the wind trying to work His favour - you are favoured.
Know His Now! is a process. As long as we are in the world, there is the place of process: which is a function of time, refining and building in the journey of growth. Failing today doesn't make you a Failure. No matter where you are now, Who you are is already complete: You are a success, a victor, an overcomer, healed, accepted, wise, free...
By acknowledging your mistakes. You can't accept your mistakes when you are not comfortable with knowing you can make them (pride). Acknowledge you can do better, then do better because remember, you are better!
Only the heart of the humble can accept his weakness and recognize the opportunity for God's strength.
Allow the rewards of correction manifest in growth, not bitterness. The heart of receiving corrections should be in sync with the heart of Christ: Love and not the heart of evil: unforgiveness.
In focusing on how the message is given and not the message, you lose the potency of a glorious phase.
I pray that as you go about your day, you allow yourself to live and grow regardless of how discouraging the step ahead may be in Jesus name, amen.