Learning From Past Failures and Mistakes

Joshua 11.1-15

Learning from past failures and mistakes. The best lessons are learned this way. In a perfect world we would not need this message but we do not live in a perfect world.

If instead if regretting or denying failures we keep a teachable spirit, God can use them to shape us, form us and build wisdom by experience into our lives. 

We are confessional people as believers. We believe that we need to ask the LORD for forgiveness as we walk with Him. The LORD's Prayer validates that. "Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors."

We may forget what He said.

We may miss opportunities.

We may fall short of perfect love.

We may miss the mark.*

Joshua had made a mistake making a treaty with the Gibeonites.  10.1-4 this caused the formation of a coalition of forces against Israel. They were defeated. This precipitated in Jabin king of Hazor to form a coalition. All of this was due to the peace treaty Israel made with Gibeon. This was treaty was made in part as we shared last week because they did not inquire of the LORD 9.14

How do we learn from past failures, places where we have missed the mark?

1. Admit  It

This is often very difficult. 

It takes humility.

It requires honesty with yourself.

It strikes at pride.

It has risks.

*people may bring it up

*some will look at it as a sign of weakness... Politicians for instance make excuses.

It is the pathway out of problems created by it.

Looking to the LORD beyond what people might say or are thinking.

Joshua showed he did by his actions. Luke 7.35

Jesus was meek and lowly in spirit. We are His followers. We ought to be the same!... Or becoming like Him. For us that means being ready to admit when we have *

forgotten what He said.

 missed opportunities.

fallen short of perfect love.

 missed the mark.

2. Correct It In Your Thinking

The renewing of your mind Romans 12.1-3

Change in behavior begins in your heart and in your mind.

Humility is the door to change.

E.M. Bounds Power Through Prayer. Little Book - in the back of our church when I was a kid there was a tract rack and some little books. I picked up this little book on prayer. As a ten and eleven year old kid I was reading these challenging and wonderful words. Still have that little book.

Now available on line.

http://www.biblebelievers.com/em_bounds/index.html 

On our church Facebook page and Sunday morning message blog. Read it. It will touch your heart!

I remember the effect that book had on my heart but also on my thinking, on my mind. Why it has stayed right with me to this day! It formulated in my mind thinking about prayer. It will renew your mind. Let God's Word first and then time tested books touch your heart.

Joshua obviously had corrected some wrong thought processes. His future behavior showed it

3. Incorporate In Your Life.

Live by it.

Refuse to compromise. 

Think of those observing your life.

Time is a great confirmed of change in heart and mind. 11.16-19

You cannot undo the past but when confronted with a similar 

situation, you can redeem it.

I John 2.1-2