Keep Trying Again

As we close out the first week of 2024, maybe it hasn’t gone quite as well as you planned. We have such high expectations for this fresh start. Maybe you missed a day at the gym, ate something unhealthy, or lost your temper with your kids. Maybe you haven’t had time to spend in God’s Word every day.

Don’t let the enemy convince you that you’ve failed. Success is not found in being perfect; it’s found in the determination to keep trying even when we stumble and fall.

The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked. - Proverbs 24:16 NLT

JOURNAL: How has your week been? Have you done (or not done) something that made you feel like you’ve failed?

The enemy would love nothing more than to use our guilt to convince us to stop trying. He wants us to believe we will continue to fail time and time again, that God is upset with us, and we’re not worthy of the Father’s grace and love. He wants us to wallow in shame, rendering us ineffective for the Kingdom of God.

But God has equipped us for such a time as this.

We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. - 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 NLT

Paul is specifically talking about the battle of the mind in this passage. The phrases “strongholds” and “rebellious thoughts” mean anything that is opposing God’s Will. When we have those feelings of condemnation, we know that they are not of God.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. - Romans 8:1-2 NIV

ACTIVATION: What is weighing on you today? Where do you feel like you’ve failed? What negative self-talk is going on inside of your heart and head? Recognize them for what they are. Rebuke them in Jesus’ name. Lay them at the feet of your Heavenly Father. Pick yourself up, and try again.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. - 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV

PRAYER: Pray Ephesians 6:14-18 NLT

Heavenly Father, Please help me to stand my ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, I put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that I will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, I hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. I put on salvation as my helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. I will come to You in prayer, praying in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion, staying alert and persistent in my prayers as I continue to run the race You have set before me. In Jesus Name, Amen

We'd love to hear from you! Let us know in the comments what God is speaking to you as you read these devotionals. If you haven't already subscribed to receive our devotional emails right to your inbox, hit the subscribe button below and invite your family and friends to subscribe as well! Thank you for being a part of our Opendoor Devotional Community. We appreciate you!