Today, I want to share the third and final way I believe we can move forward against the enemy: by daring to fail. While this may sound distinctly American, one of my favorite aspects of American culture is its tolerance for failure. It’s a gracious quality that reminds us we are not defined by our failures. In fact, I believe this is rooted in Christian teaching—the idea that failure is one of the most powerful ways to learn and grow.

We have all seen some of the best sports teams in the world—they fail constantly. You can’t truly learn anything, or at least not much, by only winning. In fact, one of the most dangerous places to be is to keep winning by luck and start believing you’re smart. There’s an old saying in the investing world: “Everyone’s a genius in an up market.” But the truly wise people? They’re forged in the down markets.

My friend, not being afraid of failure, is one of the best ways to move forward. And if you do fail—if you stumble or fall—dust yourself off, brush yourself off, and gird up your loins. Amen? Gird yourself with the truth of God’s vision for your life. Are you ready to fight? Stand up—let’s begin. Remember, the real battle is in the spirit. We must win that spiritual fight first, and it begins with the armor of God!