Baby Steps To The Father...

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A Step Behind by Joel Osteen


I talk to a lot of people who have lost hope in life. They are often grieving over past mistakes. They tell me they are sure they have messed up God’s plan so badly that they can never recover and experience God’s favour. On many occasions they have messed up – sometimes badly. But here’s a word of hope for you: God cares more about the next thing you do than the last thing you did. The people of Israel realized they had failed badly (Numbers 14:39 – When Moses reported the Lord’s words to all the Israelites, the people were filled with grief). But rather than accept God’s judgement and move forward in faith, they tried to undo their previous mistake by acting the very same way that had gotten them into trouble in the first place. They acted on their own rather than listening to God and obeying Him.

People who feel God is distant and unobtainable and people who feel God’s presence and intimacy have one thing in common. Both groups have failed and sinned. But those who continue to experience distance from God are people who conclude that since they have failed already, they might as well settle into failure for the long haul. Like the children of Israel, they continue on the same course rather than trusting God’s way, even if it includes correction and consequences.

Those who experience God’s presence and favour don’t live perfect lives, but they have learned how to respond when God points out their sins and mistakes. They humble themselves, ask for forgiveness, and move forward confident of God’s unlimited mercy. Our experiences in life’s wildernesses often depend on how closely we are determined to enjoy God’s fellowship.