Do-Over
Don't you just love a do-over? You try something new. You think you can do it. You have great plans for it, and you fall flat on your face. What do you need at a time like that? You need hope that you can try again.
Have you heard about the business man who wrote his resignation and took it intothe president of his company after a mistake he made cost the company one milliondollars? The president refused to accept his resignation, explaining to his crushedemployee that he was one of the most valuable staff members he had because hehad just learned a million dollar lesson. What a wise boss. Our heavenly Fatheris much more wise a boss and master of our lives.
God is quick to offer do-overs to us. He knows they are mandatory in the spirituallife. Jeremiah celebrated this in Lamentations 3:22-23, “Because of theLord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They arenew every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Every 365 days of everyyear we have a do-over. God knows we need it. We will never stop needing it untilheaven, when God will be our light, and I suppose we won't have morning and eveningas we have them now. We won't need do-overs because Jesus became the ultimatedo-over for us, and His holy and obedient life will totally restore us to sinlessness.Won't that be amazing?
In the meantime, I need my do-overs. I'm so grateful to be given them. At thebeginning of each year we make a special focus on what we hope to do differentlyor what we hope to experience in the new year. I urge you to take this time toexamine your character and think about how you would like your character to bedifferent in the coming year. Take some time to sit and write all the wonderfuland not-so-wonderful character qualities that you recognize in yourself. Usethat reality of who you are to cause you to think of who you would like to be.Make another list of character qualities that you would like to have. Begin topray over these qualities and ask God to make you into the person He wants youto be.
Don't get discouraged that you cannot change the things about yourself that youwould like changed. Understand and embrace the reality that you are powerlessto be who you want to be. It is only God working in you that can release youto have the qualities you desire. It is Him working in you that makes you evenwant to have these qualities. Philippians 2:12-13, “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” Enjoy your do-over and enjoy a Happy New Year from all of us at www.teatimeforyoursoul.com.
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