Grace Yourself

Do you beat yourself up for making the same mistakes over and over again? 

Do you fill your thoughts with guilt and shame knowing that you should be better than this? 

Of course, if someone asked you, you know the right answer is that you are:

Victorious over lying

Victorious over perverse thoughts

Victorious over people pleasing

Victorious over your budget

Victorious over your fear

Victorious over anxiety

Victorious over that toxic relationship

Yet here you are.

But, God!

I want you to know that even though you may sometimes intentionally go against what you know God tells you, for whatever reason, He still loves you. And that love is not a license to continue, but should empower you for so much more than you are capable of on your own. But instead of just repenting and telling yourself to be better the next time, it’s time we got to the root of the issue.

This weekend I heard a message about pride that made me think of it differently. Especially when it comes to sinning intentionally.

Pride makes you believe that your way of doing things is better than what God has for you. Boom, OUCH! 

I definitely have come to those crossroads where at times I’m like, this is okay, or even if i don’t really think its ok, the consequences don't seem to quite penetrate the way they should to keep me from doing what I want to do. 

But getting to the root of that belief, is what shall set me free!

It’s not enough to say , “I’ll do better the next time” We have to be proactive right now. We have to be intentional. We have to be committed. And we have to be willing to put up a fight against how we really feel.

(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

2 Corinthians 10:4

Really ask yourself, what do I want my future to look like? 

What am I doing right now that’s holding me back from that? 

What is something I know God doesn’t want me to do? 

Am I really willing to block my blessings in order to do what I want to do?

Whatever that area is for you, write down some scriptures to help. Renew your mind over what it is, and pray about having the heart and mind of Christ over it so it doesn’t hinder you. And it could be broken from you immediately. Or you may have to keep running to the feet of Jesus for strength. Either way, it’s not something to be fought on your own. Know where your strength comes from, and be willing to be there to get what you truly desire and deserve in life. 

But most importantly, even if you should happen to fall again, have grace for yourself. That same grace that Jesus extends to us, you need to feel it from yourself. And as you learn to love yourself in a way that allows for that grace to flow, you will find that things don’t trip you up the way they used to. 

And THAT is growth.