Superhero: Never Give Up

 

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If you would rather read this message, the words are provided below…

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This is Part 9 of my Superhero series. In the introduction of this series, I provided the argument that heroes are real and then I distinguished between heroes and superheroes. I also provided a list of what defines a superhero. In Part 1, we learned that superheroes recognize the absolute standard of Good and realize that evil is a mere privation of what is good. In Part 2, we learned that superheroes recognize the absolute moral standard and realize that what is wrong can only be known by the standard of what is right. In Part 3, I defined and expounded upon love because all superheroes are full of love and are compelled to act out from love. In Part 4, I explained that superheroes desire to save people from all forms of danger and/or death and this desire comes from love. In Part 5, we learned that superheroes are solution seekers. In Part 6, we saw that solution seekers are willing to sacrifice if necessary. In Part 7, we saw that sacrificial love steps forward and offers service. In Part 8, we saw that superheroes go above and beyond the call of duty.

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But what good would it do for a superhero to start traveling the extra mile journey if he/she quits halfway through? If we make a commitment to go the extra mile, then we need to follow through and see that we go the distance to complete the second mile. In this message (Part 9), we will see that superheroes might get tripped up and fall down. Superheroes might even get beaten up and knocked down, but they do not stay down! Superheroes never give up! To help us understand this message, let’s examine two examples from real life situations: boxing and racing.

Boxing: Get Back Up!

Muhammad Ali, who is arguably the greatest boxer of all time, said, “You don’t lose if you get knocked down; you lose if you stay down.” One of the greatest victories I’ve ever seen was in the 2005 boxing match of Corrales vs. Castillo. Corrales got knocked down twice in the 10th round, only to get back up and walk away as the winner:

Another one of my favorite boxing matches was the 1990 match of Mike Tyson vs. Buster Douglas. Tyson was undefeated and had a 42-0 record. Douglas – the obvious underdog – was knocked down in the 8th round and didn’t even get back up until it was almost too late at the 9-second mark. But in the 10th round, Douglas managed to knock Tyson down and out for the win.

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.”
(2Corinthians 4:8-10) –NIV

We are not impervious to attacks from the enemy. We’re going to get tripped up and fall down. We’re going to get beat up and knocked down. Unless you’re Rocky Marciano or Floyd Mayweather, you’re going to experience a loss at some point in your life. But truth be told, even if you are undefeated in life, you can still lose in death. Are you living life in preparation for death? Rocky Marciano died on August 31, 1969 (the eve of his 46th birthday) in a plane crash. Did Marciano go to Heaven or Hell? Only GOD knows. But even conquerers in life can end up being conquered in death. And this is why it is of utmost importance that we never give up and finish the race well. And if I could tell Floyd Mayweather and anyone else currently undefeated only one thing, I would share this:

“For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?”
(Luke 9:25) -ESV

Those who are motivated by money or propelled by the pursuit for power typically stay down if the winnings of their worldly ways comes to an end and they experience a loss. Because if your treasure is only found in this world, you are destined for disappointment.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
(Matthew 6:19-21) -ESV

Where is your heart? If you know your ‘why,’ then you will refuse to lose, you will get back up, and you will never give up. In a post-fight interview with Buster Douglas, it was later revealed that he won the fight against Mike Tyson because his ‘why’ was more powerful than Tyson’s punches. Only 23 days before the legendary fight took place that took Tyson’s “0” and gave him a “1” in his losses, Douglas’ mother died. Before she died, she told Douglas that he was going to beat Mike Tyson. Simply put, love is what won the fight for Douglas. And truth be told, love is what we need to persevere! Love compels us to get back up and never give up. In the amazing 2005 movie, Cinderella Man, based on the boxer, James Walter Braddock, there’s a scene where the press is asking him why he’s winning fights. Russell Crowe (Braddock) states he knows what he’s fighting for: milk. The motivation behind the action was love for his family. This movie showcases the power of the ‘why.’

Racing: Finish The Race!
A man by the name of John Stephen Akhwari represented Tanzania in the marathon at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. He wounded his knee and dislocated a joint in a fall, but he got back up and continued the race. He finished last place. By the time he crossed the finish line, it was dark outside and most of the audience had already gone home. When later interviewed and asked why he continued running, he said, “My country did not send me 5,000 miles to start the race; they sent me 5,000 miles to finish the race.”

It was the greatest last place finish ever! John Stephen Akhwari didn’t come in first place in that race; however, he was a winner because he finished the race! There are many people in this world who do not finish the race. In fact, suicide prevents many people from finishing the race. Too many people give up before reaching the finish line.

This world teaches that in order to win we must be first or the greatest. But is that true? Even if you are the last person to arrive in Heaven, you still achieved what others who never arrived never achieved. Last place can most certainly be the best finish. In fact, Jesus told us that those who are now last would be first and the first would be last (Matthew 19:30; 20:16; Mark 10:31; Luke 13:30). Jesus also told us that If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all (Mark 9:35).

When John Stephen Akhwari finally finished the race, it was dark outside and most of the audience had already left. And so it is with life. The majority of people that will be around when you start the race might not be there when you finish. Also, people typically only want to be with you during your greatest moments and tend to disappear during your struggles. And when that happens, it may feel like it’s dark outside and the empty bleachers might make you feel as if no one cares. But the people who truly care about you will stay with you while you are down, struggling, and out of the spotlight. But even if you feel alone and abandoned, know that love will help you finish the race so that you may finish well. Be encouraged: Jesus’ disciples abandoned Him when He got arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:56; Mark 14:50). But Jesus’ love for others was the ‘why’ that compelled Him to finish what He started (John 19:30).

As I have written before in one of my songs, I don’t care to win over the crowd – I’m fulfilling all that I have vowed. With or without audience applause, I’m going to do what I do because I do it for the cause. Love compels me to continue and because of that, I care to finish the race so that I may finish well.

I am grateful for John Stephen Akhwari and for many other people like him for being an inspiration and reminding me of what is truly important in life. Indeed, the struggle is real, but our GOD is greater than our problems. What’s truly important is finishing well.

I may not be the best at anything or ever receive praise for any of my efforts, but if I get knocked down, I will always get back up after I fall. I will not stay down. And even if I get injured along the way, I will finish the marathon that is known as life! GOD did not bring me here to merely start my journey – GOD brought me here to finish the race and to finish well! It doesn’t matter how long it will take me to cross the finish line. The goal is to do my best until my last breath.

Persistence, Purpose, Endurance, Eternity:

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
(2Timothy 4:7) -ESV

The apostle Paul wrote these words near the end of his life. These three statements reflect Paul’s struggles in preaching the Gospel of Christ and his victory over those struggles. In the 1st century, the Romans celebrated both the Olympic Games and the Isthmian Games. Competitors would spend up to ten months in demanding and difficult physical training. Because the Corinthians were familiar with these events, Paul used the games as an analogy for a believer’s life of faithfulness. He wrote to the church in Corinth saying, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable” (1Corinthians 9:24-25). Paul’s exhortation is that believers should be as focused and dedicated as those ancient runners in the games. Our motivation in serving Christ is much higher; we “run” not for a temporary crown, but for an eternal one. So, by declaring “I have finished the race,” Paul told Timothy that he had put every effort into the work of proclaiming the Gospel. He had completed the course set before him; he had left nothing undone; he did his best. He was ready to cross the finish line into Heaven. And to finish the race well is to experience victory.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
(Hebrews 12:1-2) -ESV

If we are to finish well, we will need persistence with purpose and endurance for eternity. First, we need purposeful persistence in prayer. In seeking GOD’s will, we will find all we need:

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”
(Matthew 7:7-11) -ESV

But here is the special stipulation to this promise:

“You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.”
(James 4:2-3) -ESV

Our desires need to be in alignment with GOD’s will. But knowing GOD takes faith, focus, and follow-through. Jesus promises a reward for the passionate pursuit of seeking GOD’s will. We should be asking ourselves three important questions while being persistent in our prayers:

1. What are you asking for?
2. Why are you asking for it?
3. Will it benefit the Kingdom of GOD?

In order to finish the race well, we also need endurance. In fact, GOD calls us to endure until the end. Each of the seven letters to the churches in the book of Revelation contained a promise to the “victor.” In order to receive the promises, you must be a victor. How do we become a victor? Stay in alignment with GOD’s Word and His absolute moral standard! Keep the faith and endure until the end! The only way to be a victor is to fight the good fight, endure it until the end, and finish the race. Everyone who finishes the race will be exhausted, but they will also come into rest. Just as GOD rested from His work on the seventh day (Genesis 2:2), we too will come into rest on our ‘seventh day.’ We can picture this life here on Earth as our six days of work and the New Earth under the new heavens will be our seventh day of rest. Everything we accomplish in life here on this Earth within our ‘six days’ falls short of perfection. It is only in our ‘seventh day’ that we will come into perfection and receive rest. Along with the good news of Christ’s return and ultimate victory, the main theme found in the book of Revelation running parallel to the good news is that we must endure until the very end, remaining faithful and obedient (Matthew 10:28; 1Corinthians 9:24-27; Philippians 3:14-16; 1Timothy 6:11-16; 2Timothy 4:3-5; Hebrews 10:35-39; 2Peter 1:5-11; Revelation 3:16).

Conclusion:
Remember: opportunistic predators wait until either you are too weak to fight or complacent and cannot see the attack coming. Demons don’t need to beat you while you are at your best; rather, demons simply need to slowly chip away at your defense until you become too tired and weak to defend yourself.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”
(1Peter 5:6-10) -ESV

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”
(James 4:7-8) -ESV

Satan only cares about the outcome, the final decision. Do not give up. Do not ever give up. We are in it to win it. It’s not over until it’s over. We must finish well. Starting is pointless unless we finish. We must fight the good fight. Get back up, go back in. Love never dies (1Corinthians 13:8).

GOD passionately pursues us with the mission of relentless rescue. And if we are to accurately reflect the love of Christ, we need to go above and beyond in love and endure until the end.

“Bow down to the Lord. He will lift you up.”
(James 4:10) –NIRV

“When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.”
(Ephesians 3:14-21) -NLT

The person who kneels humbly before GOD can stand up confidently in the name of Christ and resist the devil and watch him flee. GOD provides us with a way to escape temptations and to live through any circumstance until He calls us Home (1Corinthians 10:13; Philippians 4:11-13). Never give up!

“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”
(Galatians 6:9) -NLT

Listen! If I can’t inspire you, then I’ll just let Shia LaBeouf do it:

Eventually

I want to talk about the word, “eventually.” Have you ever been rejected? How did it make you feel? How quickly are you able to recover from rejection? Rejection is painful and can be crippling to confidence or even paralyzing you, preventing you from reaching your purpose. Rejection is like a venomous snake bite that poisons hope. I should know – I have felt the stinging injection of rejection many times. There are many times in my life when people told me that I wasn’t good enough. And I believed them. I shouldn’t have believed them, but I did. Rejection solidifies doubts and fears and creates a concrete mixture of emotions that can crush someone’s hope if that person decides to carry that heavy burden. But if anything good is to come from rejection, the pain we feel can at least help us realize that we are alive and death has not yet arrived.

It is acceptable to experience failed attempts, but it is unacceptable to refuse to try. The very act of failing is a successful attempt of trying. Overcoming adversity is as easy as the word, “eventually.” Success comes with persistence and faith. Do not ever give up. Do not ever allow the venom of rejection to paralyze you and rot the hope within you. You can never fail so long as you never stop trying. If you don’t give up, you will eventually succeed or be honored and remembered for your faith for your ability to at least finish the race. But quitting is not an option.

When I preach a message, I usually use the Bible for references; however, I want to ensure that everyone can understand and relate to this message. I don’t anyone to feel like this doesn’t apply to their lives. So, before I use any scriptures, I want to share with you 12 worldly examples to prove that persistence and faith are necessary for success:

Albert Einstein didn’t speak until he was four (4), didn’t read until he was seven (7), and his teachers didn’t think he would amount to much. However, he eventually won a Nobel Prize and became the face of modern physics.

When Michael Jordan was a sophomore in high school, he didn’t make the varsity team, but his friend did. Michael went home, locked himself in his room and cried. However, he eventually led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998). He was also Five-time NBA Most Valuable Player and six-time NBA Finals MVP.

Walt Disney was fired from a newspaper company for “lacking imagination” and “having no original ideas.” If Walt would have accepted the words of his critics as truth and gave up, millions of children would have missed out on the joy he eventually brought to them. If Walt would have quit too soon after his theme park concept was trashed 302 times, there wouldn’t be a Disneyland or DisneyWorld to fill children with joy.

At 30 years of age, Steve Jobs was devastated and depressed after being unceremoniously removed from the company he started. However, he eventually fathered the Apple monopoly movement that included iPhones & iPads.

Abraham Lincoln failed in business three times, failed campaigning seven times, suffered the death of his sweetheart, and had a nervous breakdown all before ever becoming the 16th president of the United States at the age of 51.

Stephen King’s first book, Carrie, was rejected 30 times before he decided to throw it in the trash. His wife retrieved the manuscript and encouraged him to finish it. His books are now famous and have sold over 350 million copies.

Henry Ford failed at three different businesses before finally succeeding at Ford Motor Company at the age of 53.

J.K. Rowling was unemployed, divorced, raising a daughter on social security income while writing the first Harry Potter novel. Harry Potter was rejected by 12 publishing houses prior to it being accepted. Her books have now sold over 400 million copies.

Colonel Hardland David Sanders (KFC founder) had a few businesses that failed. When he finally decided to make fried chicken his business, he couldn’t sell his chicken because nobody wanted it. More than 1,000 restaurants rejected him. Colonel Sanders eventually opened up the very first KFC at the age of 62. His life essentially began at the age of 62. So, don’t tell me it’s too late for you! It’s never too late!

Howard Shultz got turned down 242 times for bank loans before he eventually raised up enough money to start up the world renowned Starbucks Coffee. He now has a net worth of over 2 billion dollars.

Vincent van Gogh only sold one painting in his lifetime – to a friend. A pity purchase. Despite his inability to make his passion into his profession, he kept painting and finished over 800 pieces. Today, his most expensive painting is valued at around $143 million.

Theodore Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss)’s first book was rejected by 27 different publishers. However, he eventually became a legendary children’s author. His books have sold over 600 million copies. And Dr. Seuss had a tremendous impact on my life as a young child – especially with The Sneetches.

In The Sneetches, some had stars upon thars and some didn’t. The Sneetches who didn’t have stars on their bellies, compared themselves to the Sneetches who did have stars; consequently, the Sneetches who didn’t have stars on their bellies felt like they weren’t good enough. But one day, a salesman came by and told the Sneetches without stars that he had a machine that would put the stars on their bellies and they could have stars for only a certain cost; therefore, the Sneetches paid the salesman to get the stars. When the original star-bellied Sneetches found out, they got angry because they wanted to be special. And then the salesman told them that he had a machine that could remove the star. All of the Sneetches went back and forth, putting stars on their bellies and removing them. Eventually, the Sneetches had no idea who originally had the star and who didn’t. Comparison is from the devil. And whether Dr. Seuss realized he did this or not, he created a parallel to Satan. You see, Satan is the salesman. In The Sneetches, the salesman took all they had and left the Sneetches broke. All because the Sneetches wanted to be someone they weren’t meant to be. If they had been true to themselves, the salesman couldn’t have sold them the lies that he did. Satan will sell you lies, telling you that you’re not good enough and that you will never amount to anything. Satan will try to sell you lies such as, “Well, if you only had this, you could be that.” …or, “If you looked like this, others would like you.”

Had Dr. Seuss gave up, his book never would have taught me to be myself when I was a young child. And Dr. Seuss was only one of twelve examples I gave you, but there are many more that I could have included. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with current circumstances and fall into a false belief that we will never be significant and make a difference. But GOD has a plan for us – we simply need to keep progressing forward and never give up! Don’t give up! In persistence, you can prevail! Even the snail reaches its destination eventually. What matters in the race? The start or finish? Would anyone shake your hand and congratulate you for starting the race? No. The ones who cross the finish line get the praise of a job well done. If you are alive, you haven’t crossed the finish line and you need to keep going. If you’re down, you need to get back up. If you feel left out, I’m here to invite you in!

Can I share something about myself? I am a very sensitive person and I take all forms of rejection very hard. Rejection hits me hard! I suffer from low self-esteem and lack confidence in many areas of my life. When rejection hits me, I fall down every time. I already believe I’m not good enough most of the time, but when others tell me I’m not good enough, it sends me crumbling to the ground. But I made a decision a long time ago to make a conscious effort to try even if I believe I’m not good enough to succeed; moreover, I decided that I will always put forth my best effort regardless of whether I think I’m good enough or not. It doesn’t matter what I thin about myself because I know what GOD-Almighty has told me I am: I am a child of GOD-of-the-universe! But even if I fail and I fall, I know there are many people who will help me get back up. And I want you to know that I’m here to help you get back up. I’m here to tell you that you’re important and that you matter in life. Your life matters. Your life matters to me, but most importantly, your life matters to GOD.

Now, I don’t usually ask people to look back into their past and ponder on all of their mistakes; however, I’m going to ask for you to look back for this message. But don’t worry – you won’t be looking back for long. Please go ahead and think about all of the mistakes you have ever made in life. Ponder on your regrets for a moment… I am willing to bet it didn’t take long for all them to come to the surface. Examine these three scriptures written by David:

“What you’re after is truth from the inside out. Enter me, then; conceive a new, true life.”
(Psalms 51: 6-7) -MSG

“Give me a job teaching rebels your ways so the lost can find their way home.”
(Psalms 51: 13) -MSG

“Going through the motions doesn’t please you, a flawless performance is nothing to you. I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered.”
(Psalms 51: 16-17) -MSG

David wrote those three scriptures after Nathan the prophet confronted him about his affair with Bathsheba. Not only did David have an affair with Uriah’s wife, but David used his position and power to get Uriah killed so that he could stay with Bathsheba.

David messed up big time – absolutely! David’s mistake was an all-time epic failure and he probably would have been stoned to death had he not been king. And please keep in mind that this was the same David who watched and protected his father’s sheep when he was a nobody, before he ever became king. This was the same David whom GOD chose to be king because of his good character. This was the same David who defeated Goliath and inspired many people. This was the same David who refused to hurt Saul while Saul was trying to kill him. Is that possible? Yes. Even the best of people can make the worst mistakes.

Nathan called David out for his sins. Clarification: informing someone of their sins is not being judgmental; on the contrary, it is an action of love. If you love someone, make their sins known – that provides an opportunity for them to repent and grow. If you don’t call attention to the sins, you send a message that you condone the sins. It is possible to love the person yet hate the sin. Therefore, when Nathan called David out on his sins, he did so out of love.

Confession: I, Trenton, have [in the past] lied, cheated on tests, stolen, destroyed property, hurt people both physically and mentally, abused my own body by drowning it with alcohol, idolized the wrong people, and even killed animals for the sake of ‘fun.’ But like David, I learned true GOD-worship the day my pride was shattered and I became humbled. I have many regrets from my life in the past; however, those regrets directed me away from sin and straight to Jesus Christ.

Our corrupt culture would like to teach everyone to live life without having any regrets; however, that decision will only bring about more regrets later on in life. Y.O.L.O! You only live once! Most people use that as an excuse to sin. But I’m telling you that you only live once; therefore, we need to get this right. Now, you have one shot and that is your lifespan; however, you have many chances within that one lifespan. But living without any regrets is foolish. Buried sins will eventually get uncovered. Having regrets and feeling the guilt is a good thing! It’s healthy. Guilt and regrets can and will guide us back on the right path. However, after the initial guilt and regret, there does need to be a time when we let go of the guilt and regret in order to heal and progress forward. And please realize that there is a difference between guilt and shame. With guilt, a person realizes he/she has done wrong. With shame, a person believes he/she is the wrong and that the problem is him/herself as a whole. Shame is self-abasement and is not healthy. However, guilt and regret can be healthy so long as the person can let them go in order to heal and become a better person.

David had a great character trait which compelled him to become humbled and seek GOD regardless of the severity of his mistakes. Confession leads to repentance, which leads to forgiveness, which leads to restoration. David always strived to get back up once he fell. David didn’t allow his mistakes to keep him away from where GOD wanted him to be.

It was not GOD’s will for David to have that affair with Bathsheba, but it was GOD’s will that he repent for his sins and to align his thoughts and actions once again with the will of GOD. And David did just that! David admitted to his wrong doings, felt the guilt, felt regret, received forgiveness and then he got back on track to get right with GOD again in order to be restored!

Everyone makes mistakes, but we are not to let our mistakes keep us down. Give thanks for GOD’s grace! If it weren’t for GOD’s love and grace, we would all be trapped in misery from our past mistakes.

“Pile your troubles on GOD’s shoulders – he’ll carry your load, he’ll help you out.”
(Psalms 55: 22) -MSG [see also, Matthew 11:28-30)

How loving GOD is! GOD wants us to pile our burdens of guilt and regret on Him so that our load will be light. Why? Because when our load is light, we will travel further in our journey through life and go places we never thought we could go. GOD knows we have made mistakes and will continue to make mistakes – that’s why Jesus Christ died for our sins!

I challenge you to truly take inventory of your past mistakes. I challenge you to admit them as being mistakes, and then feel the guilt and regret. But I also challenge you to pray to GOD a prayer of genuine repentance and ask for forgiveness. Ask GOD to take your burdens away from you – GOD will take your burdens away! After unloading your burdens and receiving forgiveness, I challenge you to do everything possible to live a restored and redeemed life. If you are carrying any burdens around, you need to ask yourself why you’re doing that – Jesus Christ took your burdens the day he sacrificed Himself for you. Everyone has made mistakes and has fallen. Well, now it’s time to get back up! It’s time to live right and do what is best. It’s time for dedication to righteous living.

If you have past regrets and need GOD to forgive you and remove the burdens from your life, I want to pray for you.

If you’re down and think you’re out, I’m here today to tell you that you’re not out – you are in! You are inside of GOD’s loving grace!

If you feel like you’re at a point to where you want to give up, I want to pray for you.

If you want more out of life than what you are currently experiencing, I want to pray for you.

GOD, please hear the cries of those who have heavy burdens and remove those burdens. Please fill this place with your Holy Spirit and heal us of the guilt and shame of our past regrets. GOD, I know You are full of mercy and grace and You can transform our mistakes into miracles. I know that you can restore our lives and can make us complete and whole again. I know that we may be in a difficult place in life right now, but I also know that GOD can help us to change our lives for the better. You may feel broken and worthless right now, but eventually, your life will be restored. In the name of Jesus Christ, by the power of GOD-Almighty, may it be so. Amen.

[For more motivation and inspiration, read my article: Overcome (Don’t Give Up!)]

[To find out why I am a Christian, read my article: Why I Am A Christian]