Falling Down and Getting Back Up

Speaker A: 00:00:00

Today's prompt is what principles define how you live.

Wow! Talk about a can of worms. This is one where I would very much like to answer based on what I wish the answer was instead of what might be truthful.

Transparency is a little bit difficult here because I strive to live my life according to the principles of the two greatest commandments Jesus called out, which are to love God and to love your neighbor. Love God. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself.

I'm paraphrasing here, and I think that's inspiring and really aspirational for me. But the truth is, very often I actually live by the principle of we fall down and we get back up.

This, of course, is not in my own strength or my own volition, but prompted and empowered by the Holy Spirit. And in practical sense, it might look something like this. I behave selfishly.

I realize I've been selfish, and I ask God's forgiveness and strength to make things right. I behave arrogantly, and I realize that I've been arrogant, and I ask God's forgiveness and strength to make things right.

Are you starting to notice a pattern here? I'm impatient or unkind. Then I realized that I've been impatient and unkind, and I asked God's forgiveness and strength to make things right.

I allowed myself to be ruled by fear or by desire. Then I realized that I've allowed myself to be pulled away from who God has designed me to be and wants me to be.

And I ask God's forgiveness and strength to make things right. Please dont think that this is something that im proud of or what I would encourage you to aspire to.

But I also cant pretend that I actually live by the principles that I wish I did. However, in all of this, I still believe that God is working in and through me to fulfill his will, even sometimes in spite of my own efforts.