Falling Short

During a recent fasting experience, I made a commitment to God to increase my prayer time. One strategy was to set the alarm on the phone for a middle of the day time, go into the prayer chapel (at church where I work) and pray for at least 15 minutes. The first 2-3 days went as planned. In the days ahead, I missed appointments more than I kept them. I started to forget to set the alarm. Recognizing that I was falling short, I asked God for forgiveness and got back on track. How I wish that was the end of the story. No, again I got back off track. All I wanted to do was to keep a prayer appointment in the middle of the day. I experienced feelings of frustration ... disappointment ... anger with myself ... questions of why ... thoughts of how will I explain my shortcomings to my fast partners whom I was teaching and encouraging, and what will they think of me. 

 

Reminding my fast partners that "there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (see Romans 8:1) served as a reminder to me. Slowly, I began to realize that God never once reminded me that I had fallen short or that I had missed the mark. He never expressed frustration with me, not once did He indicate disappointment with me. He never beat me over the head or led me to be anxious and fretful. God the Holy Spirit was in me and with me as my Encourager, my Strength, my Helper, my Peace. God was right there all along, honoring and blessing my areas of faithfulness, willingness and obedience. 

Question to you -- how do you respond when you realize that you're falling short? More important question -- how does God respond when you fall short?
 

 


 

 

Excuses

I ended 2015 and began the new year of 2016 with a strong sense of being more consistent in writing and posting these blogs; e.g., weekly postings without fail.  I expected to return to that place of excitement, enthusiasm, commitment and follow through when I started the blogs in August, 2012. I have now missed weeks one and 2, now into week three.  I will start, no more excuses.

Have you made new year's resolutions, commitments, plans and have already missed the mark as I have?  What are your thoughts about that?  How are you feeling about where you are?  Would you consider your responses excuses?  Probably yes! Are they good excuses ...  weak, poor, couldn't help it, had no choice, couldn't do any better, real reasons?

If Jesus were replying to me, what would He say? And of course, he answered by reminding me of the parable of the Great Banquet (see Luke 14:15-24) where different ones had been invited and were told  to come.  They all began to make excuses, to beg off.  Not one would enjoy the banquet, the blessing, the opportunity.  Surely there would be another opportunity.  Could the lost time be made up? What do you think?

For me -- God, I've started even though later than planned.  I fell short, I missed the mark, forgive me. I want to be faithful. I want to follow through with my plans, and resolutions, and commitments. Help me, enable me, empower me.  Thank you, Father!!!