Don't Misjudge Potential

 All people to varying degrees identify success by the possessions they acquire and by their profession or job. So many people misjudge their ability to excel by blaming their underachievement on a lack of opportunity or on others. Is what you aspired to be or do far below what you are capable of accomplishing?

Hope builds a bridge for conquering challenges. Hope that ensures success is dependent on the freedom God is given to motivate your heart and mind to achieve. Can you imagine the failure Joshua would have experienced if God had been restricted to a minimal influence in the plans to conquer the Promised Land?

While it's appropriate to grieve over failures and losses, continuing to rehash the past builds a bridge to depression. The apostle Paul gave this alternative: "One thing I do. Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me." This can be your hope and confidence.  

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For you are my hope; O Lord God, you are my trust from my youth and the source of my confidence.

~Psalm 71:5 Amplified Bible

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Next week on December 21-25, KHCB Radio will celebrate Christmas by providing alternate programming, the Five Days of Christmas, with only Christmas music and short devotionals. Accordingly, AttitudesAnswers will post a short Christmas blog post and podcast each day this week. Merry Christmas!

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Rising Up, Finding Hope - Part 1

Trust is an intellectual and emotional process that helps us to make sound judgments. Trust makes life normal and predictable by securing the safety and reliability of our relationships. Trust fights against anxiety and fear by activating faith in Christ Jesus. St. Paul challenged the fear of death by trusting that his faith in Christ Jesus would deliver him safely into the presence of God himself.

When the young man in Jesus' parable of the lost son faced an uncertain future and even death, he activated a fragile trust that had been overshadowed by a facade of self-confidence and false assumptions. Trust enabled him to deal effectively with a troubling, harsh reality.

Trust permits us to reframe a bad situation in order that a desirable outcome can be achieved. The prodigal son trusted his father to welcome him home where he could mature into the person God intended. Trust is the assured reliance on another's integrity. Trust is what God desires from us.