01 Mar From Here (How to turn your Setback into a Comeback) part 14

Today we continue our series as we have been sharing with you our key Scripture from I Thessalonians 5:16, “Rejoice evermore.”  In this short but powerful verse, we discovered the Greek word translated “evermore” literally means “from this point on”.  In everyday language, it means “from here”.  Then we began to share with you “13 Facets to Live a Constructive Life”:

Last week we left off sharing with you…

      6. Never compound bad decisions with more bad decisions (Rom. 6:19).  

We learned that the Bible tells us, “I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.”  

That’s how sin is…it seems once you start you just can’t stop and things get messier and messier.  You eat one cookie and before you know it, you’ve eaten the whole box!

This week let’s continue learning…

Over 31 years of ministry, I have become a student of people and I see one common mistake when we sin…we tend to compound our situation with bad decision on top of bad decision.  When you mess up, fess up…don’t cover up!  The Bible tells us, “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy” (Prov. 28:13).  You see, it’s in the “cover up” that we don’t prosper, but if you’ll confess and forsake your sin, you’ll find mercy.

Isn’t it great when we find something unexpected?!  A few years back my son was walking on the beach one day with his mother (we were on vacation).  It was low tide and therefore the tide was way down with only a few tidal pools remaining.  My son noticed what looked like a small piece of paper floating in one of the tide pools.  Upon approaching it, he noticed it was a twenty dollar bill!  Now I don’t know about you, but when an eight-year old finds a twenty dollar bill…he finds something very special!  (When a 54-year old man like me finds a twenty dollar bill…that’s a good day!)

In the same vein, when we mess up, “fess up”, and find mercy…what a great day it is!  Remember this:  Learn to make right decisions in the midst of bad circumstances and you will shorten the length of those bad circumstances!

Join with us next week as we continue in our series…