The other day I met a lady at a luncheon who seemed somewhat distraught. When I asked her if anything was wrong, she said, "Yes, the Lord has given me a ministry."

"Well, aren't you excited?" I asked. "What did you tell Him?"

I told Him, 'Oh, NO! Not again!' You see, I failed once before. I can't believe He's having me start over."

Have you ever battled fear of failure? Have you ever laid awake in anguished because you felt the Lord was asking you to try again after you'd failed?

Fear of failure can be crippling, but it can also be conquered. Let me ask you: When you failed the first time, how mature were you? Looking back, how much of the strength that you put into the endeavor was His strength, and how much do you think was yours? How many ideas were yours? How many dreams?

It doesn't matter whether you think you've failed at a marriage, a business, ministry or a craft project. The truth is that this time the Lord wants to give you success. He's telling you, "When you tried to do it yourself, you failed. Now let Me do it and together we'll win." He's saying, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?..." (Isaiah 43:18-19, NIV).

Perceive it now! Whatever He is asking you to do, don't view it with fear or dread. He's doing a new thing, and He can't fail!

Heavenly Father, I ask You to deliver me from all fear of failure. The past is behind me now, I am maturing in Your strength, and desire to rely totally on You. I know that You are with me and won't let me down as I listen and obey. I thank You for the success we will have, and for the glory it will bring to You! In Jesus' Name, Amen.