Because you are a human being - you will fail at many things in life. No one is great at everything. No individual sails through life with an unbroken string of successes. Sometimes you aim is off, your judgment is faulty, or your timing is poor and you end up falling flat on your face.

But failing doesn't make you a failure! You're never a failure until you give up. Losing a battle doesn't mean you've lost the war. Failing to score a touchdown on your first five attempts doesn't mean you've lost the game. You just keep trying.

Thomas Edison "failed" thousands of time before he succeeded in finding the right elements to create the electric light bulb. His attitude was " I haven't failed. I now know thousands of ways that don't work." Don't label your unsuccessful attempts as failures.
Instead call them "an education!" Ask yourself: What can I learn from this experience?

Here are five possible causes of failure as explained in the book of Proverbs. (I recommend you read the entire book for the rest of the reasons.) We set ourselves up for failure ...

• ... when we don't plan ahead. "A sensible man watches for problems and prepares for them. The fool never looks ahead and suffers the consequences." Pr. 27:12

• ... when we think we're infallible. "Pride leads to destruction and arrogance leads to downfall." Pr. 18:12

• ... when we are afraid to take risks. "The fear of man is a dangerous trap but to trust in God gives safety." Pr. 29:25

• ... when we give up too soon. "The lazy will not get what they want, but those who work hard will." Pr. 13:4

• ... when we don't accept guidance from God. "There is a way that seems right to a person, but in the end it leads to death." Pr. 14:12

Until next week...
FOL#64