Just because we fall, doesn’t mean we can’t get back up.

I find it interesting the Scriptures call me holy in one breath and then say with the next that I am imperfect (Hebrews 10:14).

We see our brokenness. God sees our potential. We see ourselves as we are currently. Our Father sees us as the finished project He started at the point we transferred trust from ourselves to Jesus.

This is partially what Jesus meant when He said, “It is finished.” He took care of our sin – both purposefully and unknowingly committed; and made us good with the Father all in one sacrifice – His.

Solomon wrote that “there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.” (Ecc. 7:20) We are made righteous through Jesus’ sacrifice. We can do the right thing, but we don’t always do it. This is our battle.

Solomon also wrote, however, “The righteous falls seven times and rises again.” (Proverbs 24:16) This doesn’t mean we should fall. It simply means we’re in a battle where we do. We can rise after each fall.

We have a Father who is there with open arms when we fall saying, “Get up. Try again.”

So will you?

Meet your fears with faith in the specific truths Jesus gives you.

The guys were tough fishermen. They had worked this body of water for years. They were tired and hungry. They were still a good distance from shore while facing some of the toughest weather conditions they had ever encountered.

And then the unsuspected happened. Their vision went crazy. They thought they were seeing ghosts! What in the world would or should they do?

Jesus gives them a truth to focus on, “It’s Me. Don’t be afraid!”

I believe He wanted them to remember the endless displays of power He had done in, for and with them in the past, so they could fight through their present fear.

Jesus told all of us that He is and will always be with us. What do we have to fear? Everything, if we forget. Nothing, if we remember.

Focus on the truth the Spirit gives you to focus on what Jesus has done thus far in your life. These facts will help you walk in faith rather than in fear during these very uncertain days in which you live.

You need to experience it and people around you need to see, not just hear, about your hope. Jesus is with you!

“Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.” Francis Chan

Solomon once wrote, “The LORD detests the sacrifices of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases Him.” (Proverbs 15:8)

Christians can be very religious. They do things for God (“sacrifices”) thinking that’s what they need to be doing.

Instead, they should ask what Jesus meant when He said, “It was finished.”

For one, it means no more sacrifices are or religiosity is needed. Jesus doesn’t need us to do anything. He did everything necessary to put us into a right relationship with the Father.

Yet, we often find ourselves doing all kinds of things we think we should do something for Him. I wonder if He’s saying, “What in the world are you doing? I not only didn’t ask you to do that, but I’m not even in it.”

The word prayer in this proverb not only means to talk with God, but its root also means to judge. When tied together, we are to ask God to help us make judgements on the actions we are about to take each day that will please Him.

Sometimes we assume what He wants done rather than slowing down to ask Him where He is walking and then follow Him.

Jesus doesn’t need our religiosity. He simply wants a love that follows Him.

“Just as I am, without one plea, but that Thy blood was shed for me. And that Thou bid’est me come to thee, O Lamb of God, I come! I come!”

The woman who wrote the above words in a poem, which became the song, Just As I Am, “touched more hearts and influenced more people for Christ than any other song ever written.”

Guess when she wrote them? When she thought herself useless due to an illness that had striped her of all her talent, left her fatigued and her status with Jesus unsure.

She doubted she could ever have any value to Him. Yet, in the midst of this doubt, she clung to Jesus and penned the above life changing song.

Jesus doesn’t need who you think you need to be. He only wants you to come to Him. Let Him figure out the rest and the follow what He shows you, which could be as simple as writing down words on a page.

“With God I can walk through hard times in a place of peace and that peace will impact those directly around me. It starts with my choice.” Katherine Walden

Choices. In reality, they are all we have. Every day, the only thing we have total control over is our choices. 

We can choose to be happy, content, at peace, experience joy, no matter the circumstances in which we find ourselves. 

No, I haven’t lost my marbles. Yes, we live in a fallen world where other people’s choices can bring situations we would not have chosen for ourselves. 

Nonetheless, we still have choices.

No one wants to fall flat on their back. No one wants to be ridiculed. No one wants either physical or emotional pain.

But these circumstances don’t stop us from still having choices. It’s the like the old adage, “When life sends you lemons make lemonade…with lots of sugar!” 

This is what Jesus came to do – redeem life’s lemons as we listen to and follow Him in how to turn them into sweet lemonade.

Children of God, those who put their faith in Jesus as their God and Savior, guess what He does? He can save or make us whole again despite life’s lemons.

He can show us how to make choices in His strength to keep at peace when chaos reigns around us. He can show us how to have joy while enduring painful situations. 

You may not like lemons; but, they do have healing properties. Make choices today to heal and be made whole.