Nobody wins all the time. Everyone occasionally faces setbacks.
Illustration: The greatest baseball player who ever lived got on base 39.4% of the time. The greatest soccer player only scored goals on less than 3% of his shots. The greatest home run hitter of all time also struck out more than any other player. Nobody is expected to triumph every time - but some us would like to think we can. Mistakes are a part of life. Every defeat can either make us better or bitter, the choice is up to us. Let us discover some of the principles of preventing real failure.
1. Failure is never final until you let it be. Paul wrote, "Be steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." (I Cor.15:58)
2. Too many people allow their discouragements to get to them and quit prematurely.
3. You are never a failure unless you give up. Paul wrote, "Do not be weary in well doing for in due season you will reap if you faint not." (Gal. 6:9,10)
4. People are not counted out until they decide in their minds to surrender to their circumstances.
5. Failure results from ignoring the will of God. Jesus said, "If anyone is willing to do my will they will know of the teaching, whether it is from God or not." (John 7: 17) If you are willing to do what God calls you to do, He will supply you with the grace, provisions and energy to accomplish His purposes.
6. Failure results from trying to accomplish things in your own strength rather than relying on the Spirit’s power. Zephaniah 3: 17 says, "Not by power or by might, but by My Spirit says the Lord of hosts." The arm of human flesh will fail us if that is all we rely on.
7. Failure results from trying to rely on our own wisdom. Solomon wrote, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." (Prov. 3:5,6)
8. Failure results from comparing yourself to others. Paul wrote, "We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise." (2 Cor. 10: 12)
9. Resist the temptation to compare yourself positively or negatively with others. Every person has unique gifts, perspectives and callings from our Lord.
10. Failure results from believing that you have somehow attained success. Paul wrote, "If you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! ! !" (I Cor. 10: 12)
11. Failure results from becoming proud of your accomplishments. Solomon wrote, "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom."
12. Failure comes when you forget about the sins of omission, disposition or wrong assumptions. Paul wrote, "Everything that does not come from faith is sin." (Rom. 14:23)
13. Real failure is failing to take advantage of the opportunities and all the commandments of God.
14. Failure comes to those who do not plan well. Prior planning prevents poor performance. Solomon wrote, "The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the naive keep going and suffer for it." (Prov. 27: 12)
15. Smart people spend just as much time planning as they do executing their plans.
16. Failure comes to those who are so afraid of making mistakes that they do little. Jesus said of the one man who buried his talent rather than multiplying it, "You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers.. Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more." (Matt. 25:26-28)
17. Failure comes to those who are critical of others who succeed. Jesus said, "Before you look at the speck in your brothers eye, first remove the log from your own eye." (Matt. 7: 1,2)
18. Failure comes to those who fail to follow the steps of successful Godly people. Hebrews 13: 7 says, "Remember those who led you who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith." (Heb. 13 :7)
19. Failure comes to people who fail to praY and ask others to pray about their opportunities. Jesus said, "Apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)
