An “unsuccessful” attempt isn’t a failure

Daily writing promptWhat’s something you would attempt if you were guaranteed not to fail.View all responses

You are guaranteed not to fail! Here’s why: Every attempt succeeds at something. It successfully produces some kind of result, even if it’s not the result you want. An attempt that doesn’t produce your desired results isn’t a failed attempt because it has successfully shown you something that doesn’t work. Chalk it up as positive feedback and move on to your next successful attempt.

Since I can’t fail, I attempt to be a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ, to be daily led by His Spirit, and to communicate His presence and reality to other people. This has been my overarching goal and deep yearning ever since I was 19. There have been many times in my quest that my thoughts, words, and actions have produced results that didn’t directly draw me to my goal, but over time they successfully taught me what not to think, say, and do and how to more effectively align myself with and surrender my will to the risen Jesus.

Continually open wide your heart to the living Jesus and you will be ever amazed by the Lord and constantly encouraged by the Holy Spirit like the early Christmas were. If you will step beyond religious rules, rituals, and analysis and into active surrender to the risen Jesus, He will mystify you by what He does in your heart, in your mind, in your relationships, and in your surroundings. Search for: The Joy Of Early Christianity.

The greatest hindrance to the body of Christ worldwide is the exchange of the direct, active leadership of the Holy Spirit for the dominance, divisiveness, and dysfunction of human leadership. It’s easier to follow a pastor than it is to follow Jesus. The body of Christ needs wise, humble and kind overseers (elders–mature believers) who will gather people and focus them on the presence and direct leadership of the living Jesus, not a one-man leader who will program and control the meeting. Spend your life becoming one.

It’s openly acknowledged that Christianity has lost and continues to lose multitudes of people in the West. On Sunday morning the church program is Lord. It’s handed out at the door and precisely followed. But Jesus said: “Follow Me!” For centuries Christ’s ekklesia has been held in captivity to church programs, rituals, sermons, traditions, etc. O for freedom to follow God’s Spirit! Perhaps it’s time to exchange programmed Christianity for Spirit-led Christianity.

The Pharisees in the Bible had an institutionalized approach to Jesus and look how they treated Him. From their negative results, we can successfully learn not to treat Jesus the way they did.

Seeing church as a place to receive religious services stunts spiritual growth. Christians need interactive, Spirit-led community where they can connect heart-to-heart with Jesus and with one another.