1 Chronicles 15 – How do You Handle Mistakes?

No one likes making mistakes, but we all make them. So the key is in how you respond to your mistakes.

Some attempt to avoid mistakes by never attempting anything new or different. Others act as if the mistake is no big deal and proceed on the same path. Neither of these responses works well. The first is unproductive and the second is unwise.

But there is a third way to respond to mistakes that’s both productive and wise, and that’s to learn from your mistake and make the appropriate adjustments.This was David’s response in 1 Chronicles chapter 15, with regards to moving the Ark of the Covenant. In 1 Chronicles chapter 13, David didn’t stop to consider how God wanted the Ark moved, and it cost a man his life. (1 Chron. 13:9-10)

Though David didn’t disregard the mistake and continue moving the Ark, he did try to avoid further mistakes by just not taking any more action.

But, in 1 Chronicles chapter 15, David learns from his mistake and makes the appropriate adjustments. He acknowledges God’s sovereignty, asks for God’s direction, and aligns himself with those instructions. The result was not only success but joy and celebration.

How do you handle your mistakes? Do you (1) back away from doing anything so you don’t make a mistake, (2) ignore the mistake and keep moving forward, or (3) survey the situation, search out God, and seek to learn from your mistake? (Hint…the prize is behind door #3)

2 Kings 3 – Rediscovering What We’ve Forgotten

When my children were little, they had more toys than they could play with on a regular basis. Consequently, as they played with their favorite toy of the week, other toys would sit forgotten at the bottom of the toy box. Then one day, seemingly out of the blue, they would start digging through the toy box and come across the toys they had forgotten. Suddenly, these old toys were like brand new toys to them.

The same sort of thing happened to me when I read through 2 Kings chapter 3. Some of the new/old things I found there were…

  • Our tendency to make the same mistakes over and over again. (v. 3)
  • The importance of loyalties, even in the face of differing opinions. (v. 7)
  • How quick we are to blame or discount God. (v. 10)
  • The importance of having God’s presence and instruction in everything we do. (v. 11)
  • How a godly presence benefits, and sometimes saves, the ungodly. (v. 14)
  • That nothing is impossible for God. (v. 20)
  • That God can use simple things (like refection on water) to carry out His purpose. (v. 22-24)
  • God’s word and His promises will come to pass…without fail. (v. 19, 25)

These are elementary principles we all know. But too often, they become like forgotten toys at the bottom of the toy box that need to be rediscovered.

May we not be so interested in making new discoveries about God and His will that we fail to rediscover what we already know to be true and powerful. May the old principles of our faith become the rediscovered practices of our life.

Life at Full Throttle

hand on manual gear shift knobWhen you hear the phrase “life at full throttle,” what comes to mind?  Extreme sports? Risky investments? Exotic travel?  Extreme career changes?

Life at full throttle doesn’t have to be glitzy or glamorous.  It doesn’t have to be reckless or irresponsible.  It doesn’t even have to be selfish or ego driven.

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