讀　　經：詩篇37篇21－29節
金　　句：「他雖失腳，也不至全身仆倒，因為耶和華用手攙扶他。」（詩篇37篇24節）
全年讀經：雅各書3－5章

　　1988年，保羅‧偉利（Paul Wylie）參加了在卡加立舉行的冬季奧林匹克運動會花式溜冰比賽。臨出場時，在現場兩萬多觀眾以及電視機前數百萬觀眾面前，保羅變得非常緊張。接著，他第一次跳躍出了差錯。他寫道：「突然間，我的手碰觸到冰，冰刀不穩。我開始失去平衡；現在我知道是什麼回事：我在往下掉落。當我摔倒在冰上的時候我只聽到同情的叫聲，彷彿有百萬聲響齊發。」
　　偉利面臨著一個抉擇：要麼一蹶不振徹底放棄，要麼竭盡全力地完成比賽。就在這時候，有一節經文跳進他的心中：「他雖失腳，也不至全身仆倒。」（詩篇37篇24節）他繼續照常表演，並決定溜冰是「從心裡做，像是給主做的。」（歌羅西書3章23節）在表演結束時，觀眾為他的勇氣和毅力報以最熱烈的掌聲。
　　跟隨耶穌的時候，我們也可能遭受敵人的重擊而失足。所愛的人過世、失去工作、或者沒有得到昇遷。我們可能陷入罪中而感到沮喪。跌倒是一回事，放棄是另外一回事。如果我們再次爬起來，確認我們對基督的信仰，並繼續服事他，就不至於「爬不起來」。DCE

成功是坦然地面對失敗，
從疑雲陰霾中走出來，
面對最重的一擊，仍堅持下去，
情況越遭，越是不放棄。Piggott

"成功就是爬起來的次數比跌倒多一次。"
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Down–But Not Done

Read: Psalm 37:21-29

Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand. –Psalm 37:24

Bible In One Year:
James 3-5

Paul Wylie was skating in the 1988 Winter Olympics at Calgary. He was nervous as he began his program before 20,000 people and a TV audience of millions. Then, in his first jump, something went wrong. He writes, "A flash later my hand touches the ice; the blade will not hold. I start slipping and now I realize it: I am falling. All I hear as I collapse to the ice is the empathetic groan of what seems like a million voices."

Wylie was faced with a split-second choice: He could focus on the mistake and give up, or he could keep on skating and do his best. Just then this Scripture verse came to his mind: "Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down" (Ps. 37:24). He continued his routine and decided to skate "heartily, as to the Lord" (Col. 3:23). At program's end the crowd burst into enthusiastic applause for his courage and determination.

As followers of Jesus, we may be knocked off our feet by a powerful blow. A loved one may die, or we may lose a job, or we may be overlooked for a promotion. We may be dismayed by a fall into sin. It's one thing to fall; it's quite another to give up. If we get up again, reaffirm our faith in Christ, and keep on serving Him, we will not be "utterly cast down." –DCE

Success is failure turned inside out–
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit,
It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit. –Piggott

Success consists of getting up just one more time than you've fallen down.

FOR FURTHER STUDY
David & Manasseh: Overcoming Failure
Joseph: Overcoming Life's Challenges