For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises up again; But the wicked are overthrown by calamity. Proverbs 24:16 WEB.

I was disgusted because I had tried so hard but returned to my old habits in a moment of weakness. Now, like an injured animal, I just wanted to be left alone. Soon, I was saddled with the baggage of guilt and shame and began to avoid my Christian friends.

The enemy finally had me where he wanted me: separated, alone, broken, defeated, an easy target. I believed everything he said. I felt I had let God down, and He had moved on and forgotten me. It was hopeless. Has that ever happened to you? It's happened to me.

Backsliding is like that. Once you slip, if you don't immediately get back up, you will slide all the way back down the mountain. I felt that I could never live as a true Christian, at least at the standard my mind had created. I was 100% in, or 100% out. It was on or off, all or nothing.

When we stumble, the enemy will quickly swoop in to take advantage of it. Peter said that the devil walks around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). A lion doesn't look for a serious fight but for an easy target. They pick off the weak and stragglers.

Immediately after you stumble, thoughts are going to start coming like: "You can't do this. It's not worth it. God is mad at you because you have let Him down. Why bother? They don't care about you anyway."

You will soon fall into a dark spiral if you listen to this garbage. Your relationship with God will begin to recede, not because of Him, but entirely because of you. The battle is won and lost in your thought life. Like Adam and Eve, he will encourage us to hide from the Lord's presence.

God will never forget you, and His plans for you still stand. His gifts and calling are irrevocable (Romans 11:29). Everyone stumbles, especially at the start. So Get. Back. Up. The Bible is very clear on this. No matter what happens, get back up.

There is a spiritual war happening around us, and it is natural for some to get knocked down. But if you want to make it, you will have to claw your way through. Walk, crawl, drag yourself forward. Never let your circumstances fool you into thinking that God has given up on you, for He hasn't, and He never will. He knew who you were before He called you, and that calling hasn't changed.

Jonah fell, but he repented and continued on. David fell, but he repented and continued on. Peter fell, but he repented and continued on. This is the way. That's what winners do. The master teacher has failed more times than the student has tried.

What I have found to help me the most when I stumble is to repent of it immediately. This step takes away the enemy's ammunition that he would use against you. When you repent and put your sins under the blood of Jesus, there's nothing left to accuse you about. When you are not up on your feet, you should be getting up.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please take my hand and pull me to my feet. I give You permission to work in my life. If you show me what to do, I will do it. Forgive me for the things I have done wrong. Correct my course, and fulfill Your will in my life. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!

Note: "Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray.” James 5:13 ~ If you have a prayer need, we are here for you! We and the prayer team are ready to lift you up at our private prayer page: RHM Prayer Network. If you are interested in joining the prayer team, here is how to get started Prayer Partners.