Pro.29v18: Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but happy is he who keeps the law.

Jn.10v10: The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly.

I am convinced that you are enjoying this series of teachings on dealing with the enemies of our vision. So far, I have shared two major destroyers of any vision or dream. I am also confident that you are facing these enemies of your progress courageously. One thing is sure and certain, your victory is imminent, and it shall be permanent also. Today, we go a step forward by looking at another major enemy of our vision. This enemy is something we are all familiar with and it is, i.e. our failures.

 ENEMIES OF YOUR VISION

1. FAILURE. Your failures can also be a major limiter or destroyer of your vision if you allow them. This is why you ought to respond properly to the failures of life. The truth of the fact is that everyone has failed to one degree or the other, and it’s what you do with the failure that matters. No one is immune to failure, but you need to have the right kind of attitude towards your failures. So how do you see your failures, setbacks and disappointments? Are you looking at it from a positive or negative angle? My dear reader, you need to make up your mind from today that you won’t allow your failures to stop you from fulfilling your vision. I want you to draw inspiration from the life of Moses; he did not allow his first failure (i.e. first attempt of delivering his people Acts 7v23-39) to affect him negatively. After 40 years in the wilderness, he came back stronger and ready to deliver God’s people. It’s not the number of times you fail that matters but the number of times you get up and bounce back. So make up your mind that you will be a fighter and not a quitter (Mk.5v25-29). Make up your mind from, precious child of the Most High that you will not allow failure to stop or hinder your vision.

So how are you supposed to deal with your failures? There are right and wrong ways of dealing with failure, you just need to make sure that you follow the right way. In order to deal successfully with your failures, you need to see failure from the right perspective. What does this mean?

• See failure as a learning process. See your failure as a teacher and not as a tormentor. If your attitude is right, you will learn a lot of valuable lessons from your failures that will serve you well later (Gen.50v20).
• See failure as a situation and not as a person. The fact that you have failed does not make you a failure. This is an important understanding that you need to have concerning failure if your dreams will see the light of day.
• See failure as a temporary thing and not as a permanent thing. Glory be to God. Failure is not forever, and whatever you are going through will also pass away (Rom.8v18).
• See failure as part and parcel of success. There is no success without failure.
• See failure as an opportunity and not a dead end. Yes, failure is another opportunity to try again or try harder. Failure also gives you the option of varying your methods or approach.

So my dearly beloved ones, it’s time to see your setbacks as a stepping stone to greatness. As you embrace this mentality, your disappointments will turn into avenues of fulfilling your dreams and visions in Jesus name, amen.

Other Scriptural References: (Pro.24v16; Ps.34v19-20: 73v26: 37v23-24; Mic.7v8; Jn.5v5-6; Phil.4v13; Isa.41v13; Jos.1v9).

Prayer for Today: Blessed Holy Spirit, help me combat and convert my failures into opportunities to fulfill my colourful destiny and vision in Jesus name, amen.

CONFESSION: I will not allow my failures to define and limit me. I am not a failure but a winner. I see my failures as an opportunity of fulfilling my destiny. I will not allow my failures to weigh me down and hinder my vision. I rise from every disappointment better and stronger. My failures are the stepping stone to my success. I will not give up on my visions and dreams because my future is connected to them. Glory be to God, I rise above every form of failure in Jesus name, amen.

Pastor Yemi Adeoti

Yemi Adeoti is a pastor, teacher, life coach and mentor & also a prolific writer.