CRITICISM

Paderewski was a great Polish pianist. But when he first chose to take piano lessons a teacher said to him, “Your hands are too small. You will never be able to master the keyboard.”

Caruso was one of the greatest tenors who ever lived. When he went for his first voice lesson in Italy, the teacher said to him, “Your voice is like wind whistling through a window.” He refused to give him voice lessons.

Alexander Graham Bell spent years working to develop and perfect his telephone. When he displayed it to a group of people, they said, “You are a fool with a useless toy.”

As Christians, we must learn to look at criticism as a “challenge and call to courage” and turn to the Lord as our guide and guard. If we are grateful for the skills and talents God has given us, we will accept every challenge as an opportunity to “become better” as a gift to honor Him for the gifts He has given us. The choice is ours: We can choose to rise to the occasion, meet it and be victorious, or give up in fear because we do not trust in Him to give us victory over our opportunities. The God of our salvation and hope promises us that with His help all things are possible. We must accept, trust, and act in His strength, wisdom and power, not ours!

Prayer:  Lord of our lives, whenever we face an obstacle, may we see it as an opportunity to turn to You for grace and guidance. All things are possible through You! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture For Today:      We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy. Colossians 1:11