One of our daughters excelled at running track in high school.  Many of her competitors had longer legs than she, but she was quicker out of the blocks and had a burning desire to win.  On this particular day, she was at a district meet.  As usual, she was first out of the blocks and took an early lead.  Suddenly only about four strides into the race, she stumbled.  It was heart-wrenching to see her lose her balance and tip forward.  Her hands touched the track as she tried to recover her balance.  Amazingly, she stood back up and finished the race.  And won!  We didn’t know it then, but it was a metaphor for her life.  All too soon drugs tripped her up and she stumbled and fell.  But by God’s grace, she got back up to run her race with determination and perseverance.

Last week we considered three attitudes that limit God’s blessing.  Here are three more to beware of.

Limiting Belief #4

I limit God’s blessing by holding back.  I start, but I don’t push through.   I’m not wholehearted.  I’m not determined.

[The prophet said], “This is the Lord’s arrow, an arrow of victory over Aram, for you will completely conquer the Arameans.”
Then he said, “Now pick up the other arrows and strike them against the ground.” So the king picked them up and struck the ground three times. But the man of God was angry with him. “You should have struck the ground five or six times!” he exclaimed. “Then you would have beaten Aram until it was entirely destroyed. Now you will be victorious only three times.”  2 Kings 13:17-19

In this story of the prophet and the king, God was testing the king to see how much he wanted victory.  We don’t know why the king held back.  Was he proud and feared looking silly hitting the ground with arrows?  Was he not determined?  Was he quickly bored?  Was he not fully convinced that anything he did would change the bad circumstances that he feared?  We can’t be sure, but since he was half-hearted, he received half success.

Limiting Belief #5

I limit God’s blessing by being frightened.  I have good intentions and I start strong, but circumstances scare me.  I lose focus and lose heart.

When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”
But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”
Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”
“Yes, come,” Jesus said.
So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.  But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.
Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”  Matthew 14:26-31

In this story, Peter listened to Jesus’ words and took courage.  He even took action with his new-found courage.  We may think him a daredevil, but Jesus was happy to prove himself to Peter.  The only thing Jesus chided Peter for was having only a little faith and doubting him.  Peter’s perception of the storm was accurate, but he allowed his emotional reaction of fear to override his faith.

 “Often the hardest things to doubt are our fears and despair. These emotions are like bad friends to whom we are fiercely loyal and believe whatever they say”  Brad Hambrick. https://erlc.com/resource-library/articles/10-types-of-thinking-that-undergird-depression-anxiety

 Often times fear creeps in when I project negative thoughts into my future.  But sometimes my fear is in response to a real and present danger. I identify it as reality-based fear. Then I remind myself that God loves me and is present with me.  I call out to him, ‘Lord, save me!’  And I feel Jesus reaching out to me.  He gives peace and clarity of thought.  He may give me guidance so I know the best course of action, he may intervene by sending someone to help or he may intervene miraculously.  He has never failed to show up.

If love pushes out fear in our thoughts and feelings, how do we get that love?
It turns out that we have an unending resource of love.

“For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to FILL our hearts with his love.”  Romans 5:5

Limiting Belief #6

I limit God’s blessing when I put myself down.  I’ve blown it in the past.  My track record for success is poor.  Why should it be different this time?  I’m just not a winner.  I’ll never succeed.

“they went to the Jewish synagogues and preached the word of God. John Mark went with them as their assistant…Paul and his companions then left  by ship for Pamphylia. There John Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem…[Later] Barnabas wanted to take along John Mark.  But Paul disagreed strongly, since John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in their work.  Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated. Barnabas took John Mark with him and sailed for Cyprus.  Acts 13:5,13; Acts 15:37-39  
[Years later]. “Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you when you come, for he will be helpful to me in my ministry.”  2 Timothy 4:11

This story shows that we aren’t defined by our past failures. We can choose better each day.  We can learn and change and grow over time.

I’m learning to check my conclusions.  Just because I haven’t achieved the lofty goals I’ve set doesn’t mean that I haven’t achieved some worthy things.  I need to recognize the good things I have accomplished and thank God for those.  God is interested in our journey as well as the destination.  Am I becoming a better person as I slog along toward my goals?  Have I learned things over time that I wouldn’t have learned if I had quickly attained my goal?

I’m learning to check my goals.  Would I be any happier if I did accomplish that big goal?  Does it really fit who I am?  Am I wired to be happy doing that?  Or do I think that I should accomplish that goal simply because it’s an idealistic dream fueled by what others consider success? Would I loose anything of importance if I never reach that goal?  Is it possible that I’m wanting more than I need?  

Self-Check

Do I harbor any of these attitudes that prevent God from fully blessing me?

#4.  I limit God’s blessings by holding back.  I start, but I don’t push through when things get hard.  I’m not wholehearted.  I’m satisfied with just a good start. 

     God may test our resolve.  This is for our good.  We need to pay attention to when we aren’t fully committed.  Then we can ask for perseverance.

#5.  I limit God’s blessing by being frightened.  I have good intentions and I start strong, but circumstances scare me.  I loose focus and loose heart.

      All I have to do is call out to Jesus for help.  He shows up and gives peace and clarity.

#6.  I limit God’s blessing when I put myself down.  I’ve blown it in the past.  My track record for success is poor.  I fear it won’t be different this time. I’m just not a winner. 

    I’m not defined by my past failures.  God loves me and is patiently teaching me over time.  His goal is to make me better and that takes a lifetime.

“For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to FILL our hearts with his love.”  Romans 5:5

“…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”  Hebrews 12:1