Devotionals
Proverbs 24:16a
For a righteous man falls seven times and rises again
Often our minds will stray into the this-isn’t-going-to-help-a-bit territory and before you know it we’re plagued with Shoulda-Coulda-Woulda! We beat ourselves up over things we no longer have control of and we allow our spirits to be dampened by things that have long since past!
Yet we do it! We look at the things we should’ve done and wonder how it would’ve been if we could just do it over, but our lives do not come equipped with a rewind button or a fast forward button, for that matter.
Let’s think about Peter for a moment. What do you think was going through his mind as Jesus helped him back in the boat? Here he sits dripping wet after the experience of his life – HE’D WALKED ON WATER! Of course we know how it turned out, he took His eyes off Jesus for a split second, started looking at the waves all around him and he sunk! Jesus pulled him out and there he sits with his buddies all around him, and although it was probably a thrilling experience, from what we read about Peter, he was probably thinking Shoulda-Coulda-Woulda! (It might’ve sounded something like this: man, I shoulda not looked at that wave. If I woulda kept my eyes one Jesus I coulda walked all day!)
Then there was the time he promised Jesus he would never walk away and Jesus told him oh yah you will before the rooster crows three times you will deny me. Peter no doubt was astonished and blown away that his friend would think he’d do such a thing….and yet we know what happens! Do you think when Peter heard the rooster crow that 3rd time that he had the Shoulda-Coulda-Woulda thoughts?
Nevertheless, read on and you will find our guy Peter locked behind prison doors because he wouldn’t keep his mouth shut! Everywhere he went he preached Jesus! Everywhere he went he sang praises! He could have moved to the backside of the desert never to be heard of again, but no, he went on because he was in touch with the Master. He had a personal – walking – breathing relationship with Jesus Christ! He had experienced being pulled out of the water! He’d experienced Jesus putting the ear back the soldier after he’d gotten a little crazy with his sword!
He understood the Shoulda-Coulda-Woulda’s but HE KNEW THE MASTER!
When we have a relationship with Jesus – I don’t mean a Sunday-morning-for-2-hours type thing; I’m talking about KNOWING WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST JESUS then you will develop a heart of thanksgiving! When those Shoulda-Coulda-Woulda thoughts arise you will quickly dispel them with PRAISE! It takes practice! Look at Peter! How many times did he mess up before he got it right?
If you don’t know who you are in Christ Jesus, and you are constantly bombarded with Shoulda-Coulda-Woulda, I challenge you to get in the Word and read through Peter’s life; he was close friends with failure and good buddies with pride. He was quick to speak and slow to listen. On more than one occasion he either sunk or was slicing off ears. Regardless of how many mistakes he made he knew the Master!
Dear Jesus what an opportunity it might have been to step out of that boat and walk on water, and yet when I think about it I probably wouldn’t have even climbed out! Lord, sometimes we don’t climb out of the boat because we are afraid and other times we climb out and get our eyes off you and fall flat on our face! Lord, thank you for being the God of many chances and for loving us enough to pick us up or pull us out! Thank you for not denying us even though we deny you so often! Forgive us Lord for our fears and we ask for strength to climb out of the boat when you speak! Help us Lord to be so filled with praise that the Shoulda-Coulda-Woulda’s are displaced! We ask in Jesus Name! Amen
© Jounda LaMance October 15, 2006
PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
Reader Count & Comments
Date
AMEN! And AMEN! It's that knowing Whom you serve that causes you to hit homers like you've done here!
The opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com. This is especially true with articles that
deal with personal healthcare and prophecy. We encourage the reader to make their own decision in consultation with God, His Word, and others as needed.
This article has been read 740 times < Previous | Next >
Read more articles by Jounda LaMance or search for other articles by topic below.
This article has been read 740 times < Previous | Next >
Search for articles on: (e.g. creation; holiness etc.)
Read more by clicking on a link:Free Reprints
Main Site Articles
Most Read Articles
Highly Acclaimed Challenge Articles.
New Release Christian Books for Free for a Simple Review.
NEW - Surprise Me With an Article - Click here for a random URL
God is Not Against You - He Came on an All Out Rescue Mission to Save You
...in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them... 2 Cor 5:19
Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Acts 13:38
LEARN & TRUST JESUS HERE
FaithWriters offers Christian reading material for Christian readers. We offer Christian articles, Christian fiction, Christian non-fiction, Christian Bible studies, Christian poems, Christian articles for sale, free use Christian articles, Christian living articles, New Covenant Christian Bible Studies, Christian magazine articles and new Christian articles. We write for Jesus about God, the Bible, salvation, prayer and the word of God.