CHAPTER 15: DOING BETTER THAN YOUR BEST 2024
I cannot do better than “my best” by myself. Only God can change time/space/dimensions and me. Doing better than my best is not possible without Divine intervention. Many people in prison say the same thing, “Hey, man, I was just out there doing ““the best I could.”” Clearly, most of the time, my best is not only not good enough, but it can get me put in prison. What changed? I don’t know exactly what changed, but I can tell you what the change has accomplished in me. What changed would be hard to explain, because the change came without knowledge. At the time, Faith is all I had.., and that is all I needed.
Philemon 6
New King James Version
6 that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in [a]you in Christ Jesus.
Proverbs 3:5-6
New International Version
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.[a]
To survive this world I need a supernatural solution, I try never to forget that. There is only one way to get a supernatural solution.
John 14:6
New International Version
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Situations are challenging, embarrassing, costly, mishandled, unfair, unrealistic, impossible and the list goes on and on. I can’t beat it on my own. He says, “I will be with you, I will protect you, I will be your strength, I will never leave you or forsake you.”
Psalm 46:10
New International Version
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God..
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
Something was different, and I was better at being myself, sometimes for only a few moments, but I wanted more of those moments.
Ephesians 3:20-21
New International Version
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us..
The enemy, the devil, the opposition, chaos stood against me then and now. Spiritual forces transpire to destroy, (Ephesians 2:2), the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Satan, Lucifer, serpent, leviathan, tempter, all the same, it is “the evil one.” My best is not enough to come against such matters. What to do?
1 Peter 5:8-9
New King James Version
8 Be [a]sober, be [b]vigilant; [c]because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
Plagued by insufficient information, incomplete concepts, broad judgement of what is profitable, stubborn. How do I deal with the way “it is,” when I’m wrong about the way it is? I need more and I’ll bet, that might be you as well?
Hebrews 7:25
New International Version
25 Therefore he is able to save completely[a] those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
In the book of Luke is a story of a loving father, having a possessed child, the man pleaded with Jesus to heal the boy and cast out the demon. The man needed a “better than his best” scenario.
Mark 9:23-24
New King James Version
23 Jesus said to him, “If[a] you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”
By the simple prayer request, Jesus granted “better than best” gave the man stronger Faith, and the child immediately healed. Am I Teachable? Not attainable without Him. Without Christ, I’m a cell phone without a charger, a Maserati without gas, a flashlight without batteries.
Matthew 22:14 King James Version
14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
What’s the risk? What if you decide to walk the fence, neither all the way in or out? What is the risk? Everything. Without wisdom beyond me, knowledge I don’t have and discernment to tell the difference, there might I be, having lost, leaving me without a destiny.
Job 1:20b
“The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away…”
Scary stuff I’d say. The World is scary enough without tempting disaster. The yield of such behavior? I’ve said it throughout the years of my ministry.
The memory of being special, without being special anymore.
Titus 1:9
English Standard Version
9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound[b] doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
Good advice, I need that daily. And what about success? Even in the little things and the not so little things. To do better than my best, I remember two things.
“1) Dangerous waters are dead ahead when success has been achieved.”
“2) Give God the Glory for all of it, all the time, every time.”
Why? Because I could easily slip backwards into “my very best thinking,” I like to call it. My very best thinking! Yes! My best! …thinking got me nearly dead. Having listened to many preachers I’m sure hell is filled with a few familiar statements! “It’s not my fault!” “I’m a victim!” “I didn’t understand!” “They did it to me!” I’m innocent!” I only have a brief, very brief time to do the good work.
What’s on your agenda today? Are you worried about tomorrow or the next day or the next or a year from now, or more?
James 4:13-14
New International Version
13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
Dimension jumpers all of us. Concerned about the future, the past, who thinks what, when we get what, bla, bla, bla. I’m learning to be me, one chore at a time, asking always for the wisdom only He can provide. Let God be God.
Matthew 6:33-34
Holman Christian Standard Bible
33 But seek first the kingdom of God[a] and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. 34 Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
I learned about short cuts. Generally not good. You’ve heard the old saying, “there’s never enough time to do it right, but always enough time to do it over.” Traps and Blessings, they look the same up front, but they’re not. God gives me what I need, what I want, maybe not so good. Are they ever the same? Yes, in the Lord, I begin to want different things, and those things are things I need. How do I know? Prayer, supplication, fellowship, patience. Am I still fooled? Sometimes. Sometimes I take matters into my own hands.
Proverbs 12:15
New International Version
The way of fools seems right to them,
but the wise listen to advice.
“Origin of Failure,” the beginning decision that leads to the end of a person’s destiny and sometimes life. But, alas, God gives second chances and third and more, the problem is, I’m not comfortable with the risk. I remember the story of Samson, he took it one time too far. Instead of giving God the credit for his strength, he blamed his strength on many things, one was his hair. And scripture said, “he did not know God had left him.”
Part of the recovery of a company, is walking back to the exact location of where a Traveler made the incorrect decision that ultimately started down a path that cost everything. The teaching of the mis-steps, the beginning of “better than your best” moving forward. In God’s mercy a Believer can turn to the correct direction and “be given from the hands of fate into the hands of destiny.” Better than Your Best. Again, only with God can this be achieved.
I’ve witnessed that blessing in clients many times. I have also witnessed those who make it all the way back to safety and then opt out and turn away from the Lord’s blessings. At the crossroads, “my” very best could easily choose incorrectly. Be of good cheer, in the Lord, our hearts are mended and our belief in Christ may save us from even ourselves.
John 16:33
New King James Version
33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you [a]will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
My brain is a dangerous neighborhood, I never want to go in there alone. Beware of the voices in your head. There are two, the voice of Reason, and the voice of Treason. God and not God.
Waiting for the Lord is challenging, taking matters into my own hands is familiar. Learn a better way…
Psalm 37:7-8
Good News Translation
Be patient and wait for the Lord to act;
on’t be worried about those who prosper
or those who succeed in their evil plans.
Don’t give in to worry or anger;
it only leads to trouble.
We serve a very powerful God. Doing better than your best requires fortitude and an overcoming of the sinful, selfish nature. Impossible without God and the blood of the cross.
Job 4:16-17
A form stood before my eyes,
and I heard a hushed voice:
‘Can a mortal be more righteous than God?
Can even a strong man be more pure than his Maker?
No, is the answer. Unwittingly our best thinking would suggest such things and now the world believes just that of itself. Satan fell from Heaven with such thoughts. Chapter 15, Doing Better Than Your Best.” One might ask, ‘where do I start? It’s a daunting task!” I’ll tell you where I started. At the beginning, one foot in front of the other, until I fell down, got up, and fell down. With the help of the Master, the Mercy of an all powerful Jesus, I begin again.., a few steps further than the day before.., sometimes not many steps at all, sometimes quite a few — and so it has been for the last 45 years, and God willing, may it be as such for all times…., Timothy spoke to me and perhaps he will do the same for you.
2 Timothy 1:6 New Living Translation
6 This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you.
“Father, I do believe and I “do my best,” help me with my fear, to overcome and do “better than my best” to offer you, all that I have to give.”
Chapter 15, Doing Better Than Your Best 2024.
Amen…
