Rejoice:

Read:

John 21 is an incredible chapter. The disciples had walked with Christ through this simply amazing journey, and now He was dead. These chosen men of God didn’t let that defeat them, they listened perfectly to what Christ instructed them to do. After His death they continued the mission and evangelized, sharing the Good News! Nah… just kidding. They went back to fishing. The men who intimately knew Jesus, more than anyone else… yeah those guys gave up and went back to their old jobs.

That is the natural human response. Things get difficult, they get confusing, and we revert to our old ways. We feel defeated and simply stop the very things we were lead to do. Somehow we feel like our old ways will produce something? That makes no sense whatsoever since it was those old ways we were willing to forsake for Christ… Why would we do that?! Well, it’s our nature. It’s our weakness. I’ve got a secret though, but I can’t tell you it. So, have a great day!

Respond:

Spent 1 minute in prayer thanking God that- ok I’ll tell you the secret.

John 21 doesn’t close with the disciples staying fishing. This beautiful book of great things seems to be ending on a defeated note but Christ comes back and finds the disciples. Christ knows they gave up and still sought them out after His resurrection and called them back into ministry! WHAT?!? That’s like hiring someone who already quit the very job they are being hired for. Seems illogical, but that’s the faithfulness and mercy that God gives us. Christ sought them out and called those failures to step out and follow Him once again.

Your potential is not defined by your potential. Your potential is defined by your provider. He is the one who gives you the ability to do what He has called you to do. Don’t grow overwhelmed by the enemy when he says you’re not enough, when he points out your failures, when he points out the many times you turn your back on Christ. Instead point him to history. Point satan to the disciples who turned their back on Christ yet were used to bring the entire world to know about Jesus. The failures were the ones who were used the most. Welcome to the team you failure 😛 Embrace it, and remember who you’re supposed to be pointing to!

Respond:

Spend 2-3 minutes thanking God that He works with you even though you fail. Thank Him that He is merciful and forgives you every time you deny Him or stop trusting Him. Then spend 2-3 minutes and ask God what it is He is asking you to do that you are too afraid of doing. Ask Him to make clear the very path that you are going to be used in. 🙂

Relate:

Find someone you gave up on and love them… orrrrrr find someone that someone else gave up on and help them! The second one is easier, but the first one will help you grow more.

p.s. He didn’t give up on you… so what’s up with that?!?