Overcoming Past Failures
George Herman "Babe" Ruth, Jr. is known as perhaps the greatest baseball player of all time. He hit 714 home runs, and for almost four decades, he held the major league lifetime home run record. Legend has it that during the 1932 World Series, he actually pointed to a spot on the outfield wall and then hit a home run directly over that spot. He was known as "The Babe," "The Bambino," and "The Sultan of Swat." In fact, Yankee Stadium is still known today as "The House That Ruth Built." He was a legend even during his own lifetime.
One thing that many people don't know about Babe Ruth is that before he ever held the record for the most home runs, he held the record for being struck out! That's right–the Great Bambino knew well the walk back to the dugout, which means you can add "Strikeout King" to his list of nicknames. In fact, Ruth struck out 1,330 times–more than any other player in his era.
You would think that at some point in his career, while he was the "Strikeout King," that he would have been a bit embarrassed or discouraged. I doubt if anyone would have blamed him if he had decided to just skip the next game. But he didn't. And, you might think that since he was constantly striking out that he would have started doing things a bit differently. Perhaps he would have changed his batting stance or decided not to swing so hard, but he didn't.
You see, even before Babe Ruth became the lifetime home run leader, he saw himself as successful. He didn't allow his past mistakes and failures to affect his confidence. Instead, he saw himself on a mission–to hit more home runs than anyone else. He was not going to allow the fear of failure to get in the way of his destiny. He knew those home runs were inside of him, just waiting to burst forth.
So I ask you today: what do you do when you –strike out– in life? Do you just give up and throw in the towel, or do you stand strong, knowing you're one swing closer to that home run?
Fear of failure robs so many people of their confidence and causes them to sit in the dugout of life. But just like "The Babe," you have to realize that there are seeds of greatness inside of you just waiting to burst forth. Don't let your past mistakes or failures steal your God–given destiny. Realize that you are also on a mission, and that no matter where you've tossed your bat, you can pick it up, get back in the game, and keep on swinging because sooner or later you will knock that ball right out of the park!
…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith… Hebrews 12:1–2, NIV
For more articles, thoughts, and notes from Victoria, please visit VictoriaOsteen.com
One thing that many people don't know about Babe Ruth is that before he ever held the record for the most home runs, he held the record for being struck out! That's right–the Great Bambino knew well the walk back to the dugout, which means you can add "Strikeout King" to his list of nicknames. In fact, Ruth struck out 1,330 times–more than any other player in his era.
You would think that at some point in his career, while he was the "Strikeout King," that he would have been a bit embarrassed or discouraged. I doubt if anyone would have blamed him if he had decided to just skip the next game. But he didn't. And, you might think that since he was constantly striking out that he would have started doing things a bit differently. Perhaps he would have changed his batting stance or decided not to swing so hard, but he didn't.
You see, even before Babe Ruth became the lifetime home run leader, he saw himself as successful. He didn't allow his past mistakes and failures to affect his confidence. Instead, he saw himself on a mission–to hit more home runs than anyone else. He was not going to allow the fear of failure to get in the way of his destiny. He knew those home runs were inside of him, just waiting to burst forth.
So I ask you today: what do you do when you –strike out– in life? Do you just give up and throw in the towel, or do you stand strong, knowing you're one swing closer to that home run?
Fear of failure robs so many people of their confidence and causes them to sit in the dugout of life. But just like "The Babe," you have to realize that there are seeds of greatness inside of you just waiting to burst forth. Don't let your past mistakes or failures steal your God–given destiny. Realize that you are also on a mission, and that no matter where you've tossed your bat, you can pick it up, get back in the game, and keep on swinging because sooner or later you will knock that ball right out of the park!
…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith… Hebrews 12:1–2, NIV
For more articles, thoughts, and notes from Victoria, please visit VictoriaOsteen.com