Daily Devotional For Monday, April 28, 2025
Good morning Southside. I guess most of us are back in the swing of things with it being Monday. Failure – we all have committed failures in our lives. Some may be small compared to others. But the lesson of the Gospel is this: failure does not have to define us. While I say that, some of you may be thinking, “Well that is good in theory but failure certainly did define Jim and Tammy Faye Baker. Failure defined Richard Nixon with Watergate and failure defined Bill Clinton’s failure with Monica Lewinsky defined him. Failure defined Jimmy Swaggert and Johnny Hunt (former local pastor from Wilmington who became a megachurch pastor).
Yes, I understand that at times culture may keep that cloud of failure over us, but it is possible to start over. We see this with King David. He failed God and Israel horribly – lusting, coveting, adultery and murder. He almost broke every one of the Ten Commandments, but God let him live after he admitted to his sin. When God used Nathan the prophet to confront David about his failure, David’s first words were not to get defensive, or make excuses or try to rationalize and explain his sin, he said this in 2 Samuel 12:13, “I have sinned against the Lord” (NASB). Then David went on to write two psalms about his sin: Psalm 32 & 51. David wrote this in Psalm 51:4, “Against You, You only, I have sinned, And done what is evil in Your sight” (NASB).
David writes this in Psalm 32:3-4, “When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. (4) Day and night Your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat” (NLT). David felt guilty for his sin. It did not play down his sin and as a result, God forgave him and used him. Yes, David had to live with the consequences of his sin, but He was no longer under the guilt of his sin.
God does not want us wallowing in guilt and shame, being useless to Him and anyone else. He wants to forgive us if we confess it to Him and repent from it. I know so many people who live under that dark cloud and the weight of guilt and shame. They let it define them or they allow others to let it define them. That is not from God. Jesus said this in John 8:36, “So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free” (NLT).
Former holocaust and Auschwitz Concentration Camp survivor Corrie Ten Boom says this: “No pit is so deep that He is not deeper still; with Jesus even in our darkest moments, the best remains and the very best is yet to be.” Let’s give a big AMEN to that.
Assignment: Take a moment and do some personal self-evaluation. Is there any sin or failure which you continue to beat yourself up for today? Confess it to Jesus and then thank Him for His forgiveness and restoration. One of the best ways to move out from this cloud of failure is to use it to help others get out from being under either the same cloud or any cloud of failure.
Scripture To Meditate On: 2 Corinthians 12:9, Jesus said to Paul, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me” (NLT).
Prayer To Pray: “Lord, thank You for forgiving me of my sins and failures. Help me to move on in Your grace and mercy out from being under this cloud of guilt and shame. Bring to me people and use me to help those who are continuing to live under the cloud of guilt and shame just as You did David and so many others in Scripture. I love You Jesus. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”
I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly