My oldest son dutifully plucks out the notes to Amazing Grace as he practices his guitar lessons.
While I’m astounded by his natural propensity for music, he sometimes makes mistakes.
When he does, his first inclination is to scrunch up his face in disgust, roll his eyes, and groan loudly. Then he insists on starting all over again from the very first note.
But my husband and I encourage him to just keep playing.
In fact, often my untrained ear wouldn’t even notice the wrong note.
There is a chance he inherited these perfectionist tendencies from his mother.
But don’t we all want a do over every now and then?
Don’t we all want a do over every now and then? Click To Tweet
I know I do.
Like when I’ve lost my temper with my boys before they’ve brushed their teeth in the morning.
Or when I verbally assault my husband as he walks through the door late for dinner before hearing how miserable his day was.
Or when terribly insensitive words escape my lips before I can stop them.
Maybe when I’ve cheated on my New Year’s resolutions before Valentine’s Day.
Or when I miss a day of my #write365 challenge or daily bible reading plan.
I bet Adam and Eve wished they could have turned back the clock as the serpent slithered away and God confronted them in the Garden.
Mistakes are a part of life. None of us will get everything right every time.
Yet the minutes continue to march forward like the constant tic of a metronome.
We wouldn’t make it very far in life if we had to keep taking it from the top every time we messed up.
The enemy likes to use this tactic to stall any headway we make. He wins when he can interrupt our performance and convince us we aren’t worthy of continuing. He keeps us enslaved by an unattainable standard of perfect adherence to the law when grace has already set us free.
God is able to orchestrate a symphony with even our worst mistakes.
God is able to orchestrate a symphony with even our worst mistakes. Click To Tweet
Now, I’m not suggesting we gloss over our sin. Quite the contrary.
The first step in making forward progress is to repent, and then try to not repeat the same mistakes again. We come before God acknowledging our sin and accept His mercy. The Holy Spirit is faithful to lead us forward in the way of righteousness (John 16:13) if we will submit to Him as the conductor of our lives.
The next step is to ask for forgiveness. When we’ve messed up, sometimes we need to ask others to absolve us of our guilt. But often it is harder to extend that same mercy to ourselves. Don’t let the devil drag you down for something Jesus already conquered.
Finally, we have to just keep going (Philippians 3:13-14). We are all on a journey toward perfection and the Holy Spirit is our maestro (The scary Bible word is sanctification). Yet it is not a destination any of us will reach until our final curtain call in this world.
God knows we aren’t going to get everything right all the time (Romans 3:23). That’s why Jesus had to die. His blood covers every sin we wish we could take back. Our faith ensures we will receive an eternal “do over.” This is the hope we have in our salvation.
When Jesus returns to establish His kingdom, we’ll finally perform perfectly.
Until then, let’s just keep playing our part with our eyes fixed on the cross.
Instead of dwelling on defeat, move forward in #hope. Click To Tweet
Dear Father, Thank you that in Your son I have the ultimate “do over.” Help me to keep my eyes focused on the prize I have in Him and not to become distracted by the weight of my sins in this world. By Your Holy Spirit help me to recall the hope I have in my salvation and lead me in Your way of righteousness. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
“Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own.
But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind
and straining forward to what lies ahead,
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the
upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:13-14 ESV
For more encouragement please join the discussions on these fabulous blog link ups – Suzanne Eller, Thought Provoking Thursday, Susan B. Mead, Faith Filled Friday, Grace and Truth, Faith and Fellowship Friday, Grace and Truth Friday, Still Saturday, Good Morning Monday, Soul Survival, Monday Musings, Rah Rah Link Up, Tell His Story, Woman to Woman Wednesday, Women With Intention Wednesday, Sitting Among Friends, Word of God Speak.
I love the words “Don’t let the devil drag you down for something Jesus already conquered.” So true and something that many of us need to remember during our time here on earth. The enemy of our soul likes to dig up old buried issues/wounds and present them to us over and over again. We then begin to feel defeated and behave like we are. Thankful for Jesus and His mercy. A great read to start my Saturday off.
So true, Misty! He gets way more mileage out of my mistakes than he deserves! Praying for the hope to keep me going!
Bravo! Encore!….this message flowed beautifully….xo
Awww… Just following the lead of the Conductor!
I’m so thankful for all of God’s “do-over’s”. It gives me hope where the enemy used to plant shame. I appreciate your prayer the most this morning. What a great start to the week!
Oh, yes, Meg! Hope from forgiveness. I don’t have to get it right all the time, but being forgiven for my failures gives me the hope I need to keep trying! Thanks for stopping by today!
Liz, love this! Yes, so grateful that God gives us do-overs! I wrote on the same thing this week and taught it at Sunday school yesterday. Loved reading your take on the same subject.
Thanks, Kathryn.I enjoyed reading your post, especially the thought of my sin washing down the drain. But it wouldn’t let me comment over there for some reason…
Loved this today Liz, had to share it. Amen and Amen!
Thanks, Bethany! Just preaching to myself and thrilled it encourages others!
So thankful for His grace and forgiveness when we fall short!
Me, too, Emily! Thanks for stopping by!
Isn’t good to know that we serve a God of new beginnings! Thanks for an “always needed” reminder. Blessings!
Visiting from #RaRa linkup today.
Yes, we do! He is awesome! Thanks for visiting, Donna!
Liz, I so enjoyed your post. And this line: “We wouldn’t make it very far in life if we had to keep taking it from the top every time we messed up.” So true! I need to remind my perfectionist son of this truth. 😉 And I need to remember it myself. I love that God gives us the grace to keep going, even after making mistakes. And I’m so reassured by the fact that He loves us, even when those mistakes are ginormous.
Thanks for wonderful words here today.
Thank you, Jeanne! Right! Can you imagine having to start back over from the beginning over and over and over again! Grace to keep going – I like that! My mistakes are pretty monumental, too!
Thank you, Liz!
Hope! Always hope! I think that is one of the things that makes life in Christ so different from life without Him. No matter what, He gives us hope in our messy life. Thank you, Liz, for these encouraging words!
I can’t imagine life if I thought I had to clean up all my messes by myself. Thank God, I don’t! Thanks for stopping by, Christa!
So thankful for this invitation to move into hope.
Happy Friday to you.
One foot in front of the other or one note at a time… whichever suits you! Thanks for visiting, Michele!
How many times I would love a “do over”!!! Thank you sweet friend for these precious words. Hugs, Susan
Hugs, to you, Susan! Was so great to see you this weekend and learn from you!
“We are all on a journey toward perfection and the Holy Spirit is our maestro.” I love this picture, Liz. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit does’t throw his baton at us when we hit a wrong note (again and again). Blessings to you today!
Oh my goodness… Lois, That’s funny! I’m sure I’ve been deserving of that baton to the head more than once!
Thank you for sharing this because I am in the middle of a “do over.” What a great reminder that because of the cross and his grace and mercies that are new every morning, we can dust ourselves off and keep moving forward.
Inspiring words!
Blessings,
Melissa
His mercies are new every morning, Melissa! I pray God will inspire you to take up you matt and follow Him wherever He leads today! Blessings on your “do over!”