Pray the words of this Lazaroo aloud, with unrestrained allegiance:

“You know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a failure.”
(1 Thessalonians 2:1)

Sometimes I know this…

and sometimes I don’t, Jesus.

How often do I get this wrong?
How often do I have it absolutely upside-down?

I wonder how often I call my failures, “success”

and my successes “failure?”

I’m tempted to call it “success”

when it’s popular with a lot of people
when it works financially
when it meets or surpasses my expectations
when it makes me feel good

I’m tempted to call it “failure”

when people hate it
when it leaves me financially strapped
when it falls short of my hopes – and my public predictions
when it leaves me emotionally drained

When will I learn?

Your ways are not mine.
They’re higher.

It’s an utter failure

if it displeases You.

It’s a total success

if I’ve done it in wholehearted obedience to You.

_________
Genesis 48:17-19; 1 Samuel 16:7; 2 Samuel 11:26-27; 1 Kings 21:5-19; Isaiah 55:8-11; Ezekiel 35:13-15; Matthew 20:1-16; Matthew 27:45-50; Acts 28:1-6

What is Lazaroo?

Take Me Deeper

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.