Stop, regroup, try again

February 5, 2007

By Gary Rogers

“Don’t let it get away from you!” We hear this phrase applied to a variety of situations. Normally it is dealing with something that challenges our ability to physically control it.

A charged fire hose under extreme pressure can get away from you. A stubborn horse with a mind of its own can get away from you, and break your finger in the process. Three little grandsons each wanting to go in a different direction can get away from you.

Being controlled with limited activity due to the weather or other limitations can work on your attitude. Call it cabin fever, stir crazy, or feeling cooped up, the outcome can be the same. Your attitude can get away from you. Failures in attitude will come. Even the strongest, most mature Christian will blow it with their attitude. Coming across as judgmental or belittling, sounding irritable and demanding, or just being frustrated to the point of wanting to scream each represents letting your attitude get away from you.

Which is the answer to the question, “A person is a failure when … ”?

A. When you make a mistake.
B. When someone else calls you a failure.
C. When you quit trying.

A person is a failure only when he or she quits trying. Yes, you’re going to make a mistake. Yes, some self-righteous goodie-goodie is going to point a finger of accusation at you. But you don’t truly fail until you refuse to adjust your attitude and try again.

Adjusting our attitude is what we do after something has gotten away from us. It is this regrouping that allows us to shine for Jesus in our words, actions and relationships once again.

Philippians 2:5 says, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (NKJV). We need to think like Jesus, to let His thinking become the steady output of our mind. We must let His attitude be seen in our actions. The next two verses read, “who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.”

To correct an attitude that has gotten away from us we must humble ourselves. We must be willing to empty ourselves of our pride and strong will. Rather than defending ourselves and our mistakes, we need to seek the grace and forgiveness of God and others. Then we need to humbly try again.

Gary Rogers is senior pastor of First Assembly of God in Coweta, Okla.