Recently I read a book written by the well-known author John C. Maxwell titled Failing Forward. A note on the dust cover reads, “Turning mistakes into stepping stones for success.”

James Long said, “One reason God created time was so that there would be a place to bury the failures of the past.”

Failing forward is learning from our mistakes. Failing backward is never growing; in fact, you are held hostage to your failings.

As we approach the Passover season, we should be asking ourselves, Am I making progress toward our common spiritual goal: the Kingdom of God?

Revelation 3:21 states that there are conditions to rule with Christ. We must overcome—the Greek word meaning to conquer, to carry off the victory, to be victorious.

We must, then, ensure that we truly are “failing forward,” or growing, progressing and developing personally and spiritually.

Read Matthew 13:15. We all need to be careful not to become spiritually blind and deaf.

We can too readily become caught up in day-to-day activities rather than long-term objectives. Avenues of real development and growth are often put off.

We must all go forward and make progress. No one can do it for you.

As we approach the Passover season, we need to examine ourselves (1 Corinthians 11:28). As part of our self-examination, give some thought and consideration to the following questions. These will help us determine the direction we are going—forward or backward.

1. Have you grown in at least one area in the past year? For example, overcoming procrastination or poor time management, or building resourcefulness?

2. Has your Bible study and related reading developed? How about your prayer, meditation and fasting?

3. Are you developing more patience with problems and people than you had last year? Are you more understanding?

4. Do people seem to benefit from your positive approach, your shining example?

5. Do you spend more time thinking things through and developing good judgment by using God’s principles?

6. Do you go back over Church publications (e.g. Malachi’s Message)—striving to drink in revelation more deeply?

7. Do you understand your strengths and weaknesses better than you did last year? Are you conquering your human nature?

8. Because of your efforts, has the relationship with your spouse, child, teen, sibling, parent(s) improved?

9. Have you changed a long-standing opinion, attitude or idea about someone or something since last Passover?

10. Are you more approachable now? Are you open to constructive criticism? Are you ready to admit when you are wrong? Are you more willing to make changes in your life than you have been in the past?

11. Can you control your temper/anger more effectively than you could a year ago?

12. Do you get greater satisfaction from helping and serving people?

13. Do you readily face each new challenge with a smile?

14. Do you generally have a real sense of achievement at the end of every week and eagerly look forward to God’s Sabbath day?

If you respond positively to a number of these important questions, it is a clear indication of the forward progress you have made.

Other areas may demand more time and effort on your part, but with God’s help and His Holy Spirit, all things are possible (Mark 10:27).

1 Peter 2:9 says that we are a chosen generation, a peculiar people—not of this world.

Our future depends on our moving forward toward the Kingdom. God has told us this is now the last hour; we must grow as never before.

Benjamin Franklin said, “There are three things extremely hard—steel, a diamond and to know one’s self.”

God tells us to examine ourselves.

Remove the “you” from failure and set the course to “fail forward.”

Think on these things.