What has God taught me from Failure?

On page 292 on The Purpose Driven Life written by Rick Warren he lists seven questions that are great to ask yourself every ten years. I love these questions.

1. What has God taught me from failure?

·         That He delights to use anything to mature me. My maturity is everything to Him and He is wonderfully committed to that development. He is committed to my growth and maturity. 

·         He has also taught me what does not work no matter how much you wish it, want it, pray for it, hope for it, spend for it. He is God and is God all by Himself. Sometimes He says "No!." And He means it. And He does not have to explain His no, I must obey it without question.

·         That there are certain people who will love me in spite of the failure. Their love for me will not change. I have been very fortunate to be surrounded by such people. Beginning with Gabi and then continuing with my children, Andrew, Tori and Luke. Wow, I have been horribly blessed beyond measure. This child of God better shut up the complaining and let loose the praise and gratitude for the rest of his days! Psalm 50 - thanksgiving is the key.

·         Failure is not fatal. Failure is actually a good thing. It means I tried. It means I risked. It means I moved. Failure is strangely familiar as a friend not an enemy. Failure is an event and not a relationship. Relationships are crucial to life and events are not crucial to life, living and love. I do not celebrate the failure but the lessons learned and the courage celebrated. 

God wounded me

I rode my first motorcycle when I was about 12 years old. Thousand upon thousands of miles on mini-bikes and motorcycles.

I don't do a lot of things for myself, ie, golf, hunt, fish, bowl, etc. But I did ride motorcycles. I could breathe on my bike. It was a great place to be.

God allowed an accident in November of 2007 and I have not ridden since. OUCH. That hurt. Though my injuries were minor, the bike was totaled.

I trust God for the every day details of my life. I did not begin this walk of God to have Him be a part of my life, but rather for HIM to be my life, my love and my reason for living. Our walk together is intimate, powerful and ever growing. And YOU allowed me to be thrown off my bike and it totaled. YOU are sovereign. YOU are God and there is no other. OUCH. That hurt.

I realize now that YOU did not hurt my heart but rather my soul. My mind, my emotions, my will. Perhaps my soul treasured my riding too much. I know that is the place where IDOLS are created from IDEALS. I still trust YOU. YOU are still my life, live and reason for living. I trust YOU completely.

The thought of the pain of my family if I wrecked and was hurt causes a fear in me I have never known. Perhaps a concern, that would make it valid. Either way, I am quiet and still before YOU, hurt in my soul, trusting YOU it was for my good, for OUR good for YOUR good.

YOU are good. YOU in me is good. A part for YOU I am not good. Without YOUR revelation in my life I am wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked.

I am confident YOU hurt me for good. YOU can do that again, if it is necessary. I would rather it pass but it is very, very effective at getting me to pay attention to YOUR things and to YOUR heart. So bravo! I rejoice in YOUR present love. OUCH.

Greatness

I see all types of people in my profession. I see the potential that most have for greatness. But very, very few will achieve it. I have cried out to God for myself and others and have learned about what God expects of me to do to be able to walk out what He has designed me for.

We are all created by a great God. In and out of His own being He purposes us toward His perfect will. He delights in our design and prepares us to fulfill the greatness He has purposed for us. There are several factors that can limit our experience of that greatness and the fruit there of. Some are of us and others are forced upon us. I have discerned from the heart of God that there are three key disciplines we must master to stay in the grace that God has purposed for us.

1. 1.       The discipline of Prayer.
2. 2.       The discipline of Focus.
3. 3.       The discipline of One.

I have seen men and women begin to fulfill their destiny of greatness only to be sidetracked by one of the above disciplines. It is my heart concern that you would understand what you must learn and practice in your life to fulfill all that God has for your life.

The Discipline of Prayer.

• a.       Intimate communion with God. Unlimited and unconditional access.
• b.      Vision Praying. Hearing the heart aches of God and knowing His character so well you guide His hands with your heart.
• c.       Learning how the heart prays.

The Discipline of Focus.

• a.       Raw, instant, obedience to the Word of God and Spirit of God.
• b.      Walking out YADA, quiet, still, rest, listening, reflecting.
• c.       Ruthless, consistently, mechanically faithful to design and desire of God.

The Discipline of One.

• a.       One with heart of God, order and then release of the joy in overflow.
• b.      One with the heart of spouse, children and family, order, and then release the joy in overflow.
• c.       One with Mentors, Peers and Disciples, order and then release the joy in overflow.