Face-Up, Stand-Up & Kneel Down

We’re living in tough times.  People everywhere are losing their homes, losing their jobs, losing their savings, losing their health,... and as a result, I think, most sadly,... losing their faith in God.

I have talked to at least 60 people over the past few months all with similar problems.  They feel they’re up against a wall with nowhere to turn.

As Lay Pastors you may be calling on people with these kinds of problems.  I would like to offer three thoughts that have helped me over the years deal with problems in my life.  I have found that no matter what I’m faced with, (Business set-backs - I’ve had my share, Health problems - I’ve broken my back in two places, my arm and three ribs, or Emotional heartbreaks - my mother’s death) by using the following technique I have been able to pull myself up and get on the right track.  The following are my suggestions:

Face Up, Stand Up & Kneel Down

Face Up - So many of us want to runaway, hide from our problems.  It’s only when we confront them that we are on our way to solving them.  Most importantly we must recognize that we are not alone.  That everyone, at some time in their life, has had set-backs.  Consider Mr. Hershey of chocolate fame, he failed in numerous businesses and filed bankruptcy 4 or 5 times before finally landing on his famous career.

We shouldn’t be ashamed or embarrassed about our problems or dilemmas, rise above that emotion.  Some of the most successful people in this world suffered set-backs and bankruptcies, many of them like Mr. Hershey, more than once.

It’s not what happened yesterday that matters as much as what we do today!  Don’t worry what neighbors or friends might think.  Unless of course, their thoughts or feelings are more important than God’s.  Remember God loves you always, no matter what.   It’s the Kingdom of God we should be striving for, not the kingdom of man.

This brings me to #2 - Stand Up - Once we decide to stop feeling sorry for ourselves or embarrassed about what the neighbors might think it’s time to ACT.  Winston Churchill once said, "If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything". In times of trouble it is so easy to fall back and take the cheap and easy road; drinking, drugs, turning away from our friends, etc.

What we should do is get back to basics; focus on those things, and only those things, that will positively direct us.  We all know deep down the difference between right and wrong...What we should do and what we shouldn’t do.  To Stand Up means to be strong, to force our self to do what’s right, to take the right path.  Abraham Lincoln said, "A river will always follow the line of least resistance, that’s why a river is never straight, always crooked". We should not allow ourselves to take the line of least resistance.  God gave all of us the ability to be strong, to both Face Up and Stand Up to our problems.

I recommend that we take positive steps forward - Set goals for ourselves.

Do you know that only 14% of us actually set goals and only 3% actually follow through with them?  We spend more time planning our weddings than we do our marriages, more time planning our vacations than planning our lives.

If the problem involves the family, sit down as a family and make a list of goals.  Next, prioritize them, then set time frames; deadlines to reach the goals.  Big goals should be broken down to various small goals...When children learn to walk they start with baby steps.  When someone has had a stroke and lost their speech, they start at the beginning; one vowel, one consonant, one letter at a time.

You’ll find that when we stand up, and start moving forward with goals in mind, attitudes will change.  We should set a series of small goals so we can have a series of small accomplishments.  Each accomplishment will make you feel better about yourself.  And when you feel better about yourself you’ll be better able to deal with future set-backs.

So now that we’ve Faced Up and Stood Up we can’t forget Kneel Down.  (Kneeling down should actually start immediately!)

It is when we accept that we are not all powerful and all knowing that we can truly turn ourselves and our problems over to God.  The Bible is filled with stories of men and women who, after trying to deal with all their problems alone, finally "let go and let God."

It is important to begin a DAILY time of reflection, prayer and Scripture reading.  I recommend a minimum of 30 minutes each day.  It works best for me to start my day with it.  I even get up 30 minutes earlier so I don’t have an excuse not to do it.  You’ll find that it will provide strength, understanding and a sense of peace.  It will also point you in the right direction for the day.

Although we should regularly turn to God, so many of us only turn to Him when we're in trouble,. then we blame God if our problems are not immediately resolved.  Blaming God is nonsense. God hasn’t caused our problems, we haven't been singled out as a 20th Century Job.  God has however offered Himself as our solution.

Face Up, Stand Up and Kneel Down - I believe a formula for success.

Whether your problems are physical, spiritual, emotional or occupational, I suggest that we...

Face Up, Stand Up and at the same time not forget to Kneel Down.

I recommend it only because it works for me.

Respectfully in Christ,

Mark Price