JAMES 1:2-4 AMP

Consider it nothing but joy, my [a]brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. 3 Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing.

JEREMIAH 29:11

NIV 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

PROVERBS 16:9

A MAN’S HEART PLANS HIS WAY, BUT THE LORD DIRECTS HIS STEPS

1. LET GO OF THE PAST

TD JAKES – STOP HOLDING ONTO YOUR HISTORY AT THE EXPENSE OF YOUR DESTINY

PHILIPIANS 3:13-14

NIV 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it,[a] but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

ISAIAH 43:18-19

“Forget the former things;

do not dwell on the past.

See, I am doing a new thing!

Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the wilderness

and streams in the wasteland.

PROVERBS 23:7 AS A MAN THINKS IN HIS HEART, SO IS HE

2 TIMOTHY 1:7 GOD HASN’T GIVEN YOU A SPIRIT OF FEAR, …

SOUND MIND – GREEK WORD – DISCIPLINE THINKING

JOB 2:9-10 KJV

9 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still cling to your integrity [and your faith and trust in God, without blaming Him]? Curse God and die!” 10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the [spiritually] foolish women speaks [ignorant and oblivious to God’s will]. Shall we indeed accept [only] good from God and not [also] accept adversity and disaster?” In [spite of] all this Job did not sin with [words from] his lips.

2. JESUS SEES BEYOND OUR FAILURE

Phil. 3:12-14

MSG 12-14 I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.

NOAH – WAS A DRUNK

ABRAHAM – WAS TOO OLD

ISSAC – WAS A DAYDREAMER

JACOB – WAS A LIAR

LEAH – WAS UGLY

JOSEPH – WAS ABUSED

MOSES - HAD A STUTTERING PROBLEM

GIDeonN – WAS AFRAID

SAMSON – HAD LONG HAIR AND WAS A WOMANIZER

RAHAB – WAS A PROSTITUTE

JEREMIAH & TIMOTHY – WERE TOO YOUNG

DAVID – WAS AN ADULTURER & MURDERER

ELIJIAH – WAS SUICIDAL

ISAIAH – PREACHED NAKED

JONAH – RAN FROM GOD

NAOMI – WAS A WIDOW

JOB – WENT BANKRUPT

JOHN THE BAPTIST – ATE BUGS

PETER – DENIED CHRIST

GOD IS NOT LOOKING FOR PERFECT PEOPLE,

HE IS LOOKING FOR AVAILABLE PEOPLE

ISAIAH 61:2-5 NIV

TO PROCLAIM THE YEAR OF THE LORDS FAVOR AND THE DAY OF VENGEANCE OF OUR GOD, TO COMFORT ALL WHO MOURN, AND PROVIDE FOR THOSE WHO GRIEVE IN ZION – TO BESTOW ON THEM A CROWN OF BEAUTY INSTEAD OF ASHES, THE OIL OF JOY INSTEAD OF MOURNING, AND A GARMENT OF PRAISE INSTEAD OF A SPRIIT OF DESPAIR

GIVE HIM YOUR WORST – HE WILL GIVE YOU HIS BEST

3. IT'S ALWAYS TOO EARLY TO QUIT.

AND IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO START BECAUSE OF JESUS

4. YOU WERE MADE BY GREATNESS FOR GREATNESS

5. BE HUNGRY AND STAY PLUGGED IN!

PSALM 34:8

OH, TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD!

MATT. 5:6

BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS, FOR THEY WILL BE FILLED!