Celebration.
My wife Esther unabashedly celebrates anything and everything. On May 9th, it's her birthday. Every year, her birthday is a big deal. If she could, she would make it a national holiday. In the past, we've celebrated her birthday for a whole week. This year, it might actually be a whole month.
Celebration.
I write this not to make fun of her. In fact, I love her for it. It is quite important for people to have this quality. Christians especially can be prone to celebrate too little. Take any struggle that you are faced with, whether it's a pornography, jealousy, or temptation to eat too much junk food (which is just as serious an issue).
Celebration.
For example, you have this temptation you are trying to resist. But that temptation (in this case a bag of chips) keeps calling out to you. You tell your friends to pray for you. You resist it for a day. You succeed. You are even strong enough to go as long as a week, not touching that bag of chips. You come back to small group next week and tell your friends that it is going well, that this week wasn't so bad. The small group's over and you can't wait to go home because you've had a long week and a tiring day. But then that very night, on your drive home you see this advertisement for deliciously crunchy Ruffles. When you arrive home, you find yourself staring at that bag of chips, jacket still on. Before you know it, you're sitting on the floor devouring the family size bag in its entirety.
Celebration.
The next day, you are too ashamed to even call your friends to say that you have failed. You have given in to the temptation. You have lost the battle. You imagine going to the grocery store to buy 5 more bags. After all, what's the point in trying again? Or maybe you want to try just one more time, but deep down you know it won't last. You may put forth some sort of effort, but you don't even believe in yourself anymore.
Celebration.
It is precisely at this time that you need to remember the small victories. You need to remember how you did have victory over that one day at least. Meditate on how that one day went and what's so special about it.
Celebration.
Remember also that you actually went a whole week. Think back on the steps you took and the effort that you exerted. Remember the week and celebrate that. Instead of focusing on the mistake, focus on the victories.
Celebration.
Why is it that we focus on the mistakes? Does it help us overcome it? We sure like to think so. But as I analyze my own life, I'm realizing that it is not always true. In many cases, focusing on the mistakes makes me tense up more and try to be more careful. But ultimately it does not help in avoiding the "temptations" at all. However, when I focus on the victories, it helps me to keep fighting the good fight. Instead of weakness, I have strength. Instead of despair, I have hope. Instead of fear, I have faith.
Celebration.
The ancient Israelites knew how to celebrate. They have so many festivals where they get to celebrate God's goodness. Week long celebrations seem like common occurrences (cf. 2 Chronicles 7:1-10). God's victories are remembered and sung out loud (cf. Exodus 15). In many cases, there was even much dancing in celebration of particular victories (cf. 2 Samuel 6).
Celebration.
What have we done with these passages of celebration? Do we still celebrate like that? This applies to whole churches too but my focus today is on the individual. I want each individual to know that there are many things in your life worth celebrating. There have been many wonderful works that God has effected in you. Hold fast to it and thank God for it.
Celebration.
Don't brush away that one area of temptation like it's nothing. No. Do keep working on it. There are many useful books that deal with the specifics of how to work on it. Read them. I'm complementing those books, not disregarding them. My point is just to celebrate more, to not put so much focus on how you messed up. Use that same effort to focus on God's goodness and His ability to work wonders. Nail your mistake to the cross and move on with your life. He who raised Jesus from the dead can surely raise you from your sin as well. "He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it." - 1 Thessalonians 5:24
Celebration.
What will you be celebrating this week?
