DON’T TRY SO HARD

Sometimes we put so much stress ourselves to be perfect. I remember growing up as a kid being told I would never be anything. I can remember thinking to myself that is not true. At that moment I made it my job to be the best that I could be. I strived to be the best at everything I did but with that came a down side. When I didn’t do well on something I took it really hard on myself. I hated failure because I was afraid to hear I told you so from those who spoke negative to me. My biggest strength became my biggest weakness. I didn’t know how to deal with failure. I tried so hard and I noticed that sometimes when you try so hard things turn out worse. As I got older I learned through God that sometimes with failure comes success. These same feelings happen everyday in many homes around the world. Some strive to be the best that they can at work. Some strive to be the best father at home. Some strive to be the best spouse at home. I could go on and on with different issues that we face. Here is the problem though that some people face. They can do 99% of things right in these categories, and make a mistake 1% of the time and when that happens they take it out on themselves unforgiving themselves. They put too much pressure on themselves not giving themselves grace to make a mistake. The same thing happens when we as Christians try to walk out Gods will for our lives. When we make a mistake in our walk, we fail to forgive ourselves and give ourselves grace when our heavenly father up above who love us gives it to us freely.

I would like to share with you some scriptures that will encourage you to allow yourself to receive grace from yourself, because God who loves you gives you grace. It also will allow you to have a reference to go to when you may need it.

Ephesians 1:6 (NIV)
6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. (Stop trying so hard to earn it, allow your self to receive it. Allow yourself to receive also from yourself.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. (So nothing that you can do will allow you to earn it, because it is given to you freely!!!)

Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV)
13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Forget about our past mistakes,don’t let them hinder you from the blessings God has in store for you.)

Hebrews 4:15-16 (NIV)
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Matthew 11:28-29 (NIV)
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (No matter what you go through put it on his shoulders and when you do that you will find rest, NO WORRIES BUT REST!!)

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. (When you are at your weakest moment hold on to this verse.)

I pray that you take these verses and hold on to them. Allow yourself grace even when you fail. And if you so happen to fall in your Christian walk. remember God gives you grace and that he is not looking for perfection.

Lord I pray that if there is someone who is reading this blog dealing with a hard time allowing themselves grace and having a hard time accepting your grace. That through your word they will begin to accept it. Lord I also pray that those who don’t know you come to know you and I pray that they ask you to forgive them of their sins and accept you in their life believing that you died for their sins and that you rose again on the third day so that they may live with you forever in your heavenly kingdom in Christ Jesus AMEN!!!
I pray that it this applies to you God speak to you through the song below!!