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Confronting Our Failures

"By confronting our failures, we come closer to reaching perfection."

~Scott Beare

This is the first I've heard of this motivational speaker, but his quote says volumes about life in general. I'd like to make an application to our Christian walk as well. We cannot hope to ignore our failures and think we will show Christ to the world. The disconnect between our walk and our conversation will be apparent to those around us. We cannot possibly hope to challenge the world, even if we speak the truth, if we don't live it.

Now I realize that we all make mistakes, sometimes even choose to do wrong. But facing those failures, asking God's forgiveness (and those we have wronged) and seeking His help, we can move closer to the perfection that is only available through Christ. As the following scripture states, we have work to do, and I would challenge you to not neglect it, even at your busiest times!

Now, I know this is not pleasant work. But it is necessary. God desires that we become more like Him. It is something we must work at constantly, and at times it will be our task to look at something we have failed at, either in doing something we shouldn't have, or by not doing what we ought to have done. Perhaps these times are good at keeping us humble and also at letting others know we care for them, more than self. Confrontation of self is one of the most difficult, and as one sister once told me, I don't like confrontation. Well, I don't either, but at times it is necessary.

"So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." Philippians 2:12-13




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