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When I start something, my best attitude is: I don’t have to win, but I have to try.
The Spirit brings conviction into your life, sometimes through sleepless nights, because He wants you to do something. To try. Often, we resist the Spirit’s voice because it means dealing with or running at what we fear.
I don’t like to speak in public, but God gave me a career of speaking publicly several times a week for 49 years. I wanted to move to Florida, but I’ve spent my entire life in Springfield. I never wanted to travel on a mission trip, but now it’s 100+ mission trips later for me.
What are your fears? What won’t you do? Listen closely and intently to God’s calling for you.
Pretty much every important thing that I have done in my career, I didn’t want to do at first. I developed a plan. Sort of a coward’s plan, but it has worked.
I do not have to win, I don’t have to succeed, but I have to try.
I’ve heard it said, “Failure is not an option.” Believe me, it is an option! Many times, I have failed. Some of the big desires of my heart I am still struggling to accomplish. A president of the United States said in an Inaugural Address, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” I’ve found this to be untrue as well because we have a devil who prowls about like a roaring lion seeking to devour us.
You can lose battles. It is a real spiritual war in which we are engaged. There will be losses and defeat, but we must try. Fortunately, the ultimate victory has been assured by the resurrection of Jesus Christ!
My favorite verse for trying is 1 Corinthians 12:6. Read it carefully in The Passion Translation (TPT) below:
The same God distributes different kinds of miracles that accomplish different results through each believer’s gift and ministry as he energizes and activates them.
I don’t have to win. I just have to try and then leave the results to God. He oversees the effect. I can try and fail and be okay with the result because I’m not responsible for the ultimate end! God will do what He wants with my efforts. What is important are my efforts.
When I have a mission, a passion, or a calling, I have to try. I do not have to succeed. Consider again 1 Corinthians 12:16 in my personal translation that I call the Old Guy Version (OGV):
God’s in charge. Not me. I do not have to win, but I must try. God gives me the gift and the ministry, and He will bring the miracle or not. And I praise Him always.
I’m not sure about having a “winning attitude.” Not everyone will become a millionaire, get a Super Bowl ring, or receive a Nobel Prize. All winning attitudes lose eventually.
The world’s acclaim won’t be worth a pile of dust on Judgment Day.
The “success” praise that I want to hear from Jesus at the end is, “Well done, My good and faithful servant. You tried and I am the Victory.”
Question: What is your try list? Number three points of obedience below. This is your calling!
1.
2.
3.
You don’t have to win… but you must try!