Message summary: Have you goofed up, messed up, or even blown it big time? Perhaps you are in the process of trying to stand again after you've fallen. Call on the name of the Mighty God of the universe. As you take hold of the Lord's righteous right hand He will pick you up. He will come and save you.

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"The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and he delights in His way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the LORD upholds him with His hand" (Psalm 37:23,24). "Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; protect me from men of violence who plan to trip my feet" (Psalm 140:4). "We all stumble in many ways" (James 3:2).

We notice as we get older a greater sense of our proneness to falling, especially where there are rocks, roots and other obstacles. While walking on smooth surfaces we get comfortable and may not even pay attention to the terrain. But today let's consider the Christian journey like a long hike through rocky terrain which has some laments like that of John Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress".

Have you ever fallen? Of course you have! You did so a lot when you were learning to walk but have surely forgotten that by now. You've also fallen a few times after being full-grown and how embarrassing is that! Then, as noted in our first paragraph, falling becomes a precarious condition of aging. Some of us will remember the cheesy TV ad from the eighties with the memorable line, "I've fallen and I can't get up."

When we fall we can linger in a fallen position or choose to get up, brush off the debris, and trudge on. And when we are unaware of what made us fall we're wise to examine the terrain and see what obstacle we stumbled over. That's a good lesson for the Christian life as well.

We've also fallen spiritually; in one way or another all of us. The Apostle James says, "We all stumble in many ways" (3:2). Sometimes we stumble "big time", but more commonly in the "small ways". The seasoned Christian pilgrim has experienced the spiritual bruises from these falls. The persevering believer has a testimony of overcoming falls. They don't give up.

In  the first daily text the Psalmist has a wonderful promise, "The steps of a good man* are ordered by the LORD, and he delights in His way."

"Though he fall". This passage acknowledges that the "good man" falls, but gives us two great assurances.

1) "He shall not be utterly cast down". Thank God that we have no excuse for staying down after we fall. God has promised that we will not "be utterly cast down". Be sure to remind the devil when he tells you otherwise.

2) "For the Lord upholds him with His hand". Cling to this encouraging truth and cling to His upholding hand today, believing friend. The immutable God continues to uphold His children. What an assuring promise for today and for always.

Have you goofed up, messed up, or even blown it big time? Perhaps you are in the process of trying to stand again after you've fallen. Call on the name of the Mighty God of the universe. As you take hold of the Lord's righteous right hand He will pick you up. He will come and save you. Do not give up! Though you fall, you shall not be utterly cast down; for the LORD upholds you with His hand.

Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13.

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber