Episode 1. Letting go of perfectionism
~ and how letting go of it will invite God’s power to be revealed in our weaknesses. We see how it is unhealthy because, it is only Christ who came for the imperfect us, to make us perfect. If He found us perfect, where would that leave His son?.
We see how perfectionism is unattainable, it makes you feel you have it all figured out but in the end, what we get is an exhausted person and unhealthy destructive self-talk. We are instead called to live a life worthy of His sacrifice and it may look like having high standards for doing stuff but not perfectionism. 2Cor 12:9 His grace is sufficient for you, his power is made perfect in weakness.
Episode 2. Where does this Perfectionism come from?
Have you ever thought that you are enough and that you’ve got what it takes?. Striving to be perfect is triggered by many experiences. As a result, shame, fear of failing, making mistakes and disappointing people, and not meeting people’s expectations are triggered.
Our striving for perfectionism seems to be a counter effect of coping against shame, judgment, and blame. I wanted to prove that I can do better. Even though, those I was trying to prove myself to, were nowhere near my life. Its the continuous struggle to belong, feel noticed, to be good enough. I was trying to earn approval from external standards made by men.
So, have you ever told yourself that you are enough Remember, you’ve Got What It Takes? We are reminded in Ephesians 2:10 “10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them”.
Episode 3: Our personalities and how it impacts/ triggers our behavior.
We saw how Our personalities and our upbringing definitely influence how we relate to our children or those around us and also trigger certain behavior in them.
Christ came to make us perfect by taking our sins and imperfections. We went ahead and dug deeper to see the root of perfectionism. Irrespective of what you have done, know that God’s grace is sufficient for me.
All I have to do is 1st forgive myself and all those who punished me and didn’t relate the consequences or punishment with the misbehavior, which makes one shut down and feel like it’s about them failing and not having made a bad decision.
Episode 4: Let go of Control:
In Matthew 11, Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
So why do we still hunger for control? What is the way forward in letting it go? How do we unmask God’s grace and let ourselves soak in His unending grace?
It is not that we do not trust Him but could it be we are hiding some other weaknesses by striving to be perfect in others as we keep upgrading checklists from checklists as a sign of accomplishment and fulfillment.
There’s definitely something about letting go, not trying so hard to control everything ourselves and relying on God who will bring good things to pass.
How about, before we blame ourselves for failures because of checklists did not go as planned, we surrender to the one who can clothe us in perfection and take control of our lives. We only need to be still, get out of our own ways. We do not have to be perfect moms, wives.
Our spouses and children already knows how great of a mom and wife you are, you do not need to break your leg to prove it.
We have seen that we are enough and theres nothing that we can do to deserve Gods’ love or mercy. Lets place all of your worries, frustrations, and limiting patterns in God’s capable hands.
We need to have a daily practice of letting go.
Episode 5. We Unmask God’s grace by knowing that we are free off condemnation,
especially when we follow what God’s word says about us. It is the voice of truth. It says you are free, chosen, forgiven, called, and are a masterpiece.
Romans 8:1 ” Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus “. How is that even possible when are full of sin? Its because, we have the righteousness of Christ backing us up when we stand before the father. You have been forgiven, so so don’t condemn no one and not even yourself.
Remember, the old is gone and the new has come. Walk in that confidence and experience God’s grace fully.
Episode 6: We unmask God’s grace by changing our perception of who God is and who we are in Him.
God sent His son to die for you and me. He is not like man, His love is unconditional and knows no boundaries.
Oftentimes, we think of ourselves at the bottom of the pit, not worthy of love nor belonging. We see ourselves as ”Too far gone” or too damaged to be love or shown grace, then we see God as this wrath-filled God, full of anger and ready to pounce on us.
It is time to realize that God wants to trade our ashes for His beauty. He wants to take our dry bones and breathe life into them. There is no place too far for you to find God’s grace or where God’s grace can find you.
So come out of that lie that makes you think you are undeserving of grace live a life full of Grace. Let us not take God back to the battleground where He already won the battle.
Stop running away but approach Him because He is here to meet you and invite you back home to where you belong. Ephesians 3: 14-19 ( I pray you to grasp how He loves you..) ~ be encouraged!
A Prayer for the Ephesians 14 For this reason I kneel before the Father,
15 from whom every family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name.
16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,
18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,
19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
I pray you know that you are : His beloved you are free, you are the temple of the Holly Spirit, God’s child, friend of Christ, His workmanship, you are adopted in God’s family, forgiven and clean, His masterpiece, whole in Christ, righteous, a co-heir with Christ, citizen of heaven, new creation, justified, free from condemnation, set apart more than a conquerer …etc.
Walk in the confidence that He delights in you and wants to enjoy your presence as well. Remember, nothing can EVER SEPARATE YOU FROM HIS LOVE!
More Than Conquerors Rom 8:31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.
34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”[j]
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Episode 7. Several ways to unmask the grace of God.
Have you ever been offered a gift and the person offering has made it clear explicitly or indirectly that you have to do something in return for them? Would you freely take it? Nah! You would be like ”No thanks”.
Have you realized that we do the same with Christ? When we realize what the sacrifice for our sins cost Him, we are embarrassed to freely receive Him and all His promises, because we tend to think that there are some strings attached. That’s a big lie!!
So how do continue to unmask God’s grace: 7a). Simply asking Him ~ He is a father who is willing to give us good gifts.
7b.) Through His word ~ His word is life and comes alive in us revealing to us the secrets of His mercy and grace. His word will be revealed to you when your heart is open. Through revelations.
7c). Loving on others and fellowship ~ Once we experience His grace and it is manifested in or hearts, we can only pay it forward by showing the same mercy and love to those around us, whether deserving or undeserving of it.
7d). Realizing what a costly price he paid ~ the pricey price Romans 5: 8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! *** The sacrifice was huge.
7e). Realizing that the grace is free for us to receive~ As we partake of it and soak ourselves in it, we need to be aware that prior to receiving it, we did not deserve it: There is nothing we can give him back, but he gave it all. As humans, we usually love the tit for tat love kind of giving.
7f). This next way of unmasking Gods’ grace relates back to knowing our identity ~ The promises /results we receive from the mercy that He showed us through His sacrifice ~ through His love, we are called children of God. (1 John 3:1).
7g). Realizing that there are no strings attached ~ His grace was and is freely given. No repayment for the act needed. It is free for all who yearn for it.
***John 10: 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
Going forward, let us continue to have a desire and hunger to experience His grace and love. Let us take off all the masks that hinder this experience.
Let’s seek Him, yearn for more of His presence and sink deeply in this love and sink deeply in it because, we have only scratched the surface.
Have you experienced a season where you feel like God’s grace was revealed to you through a different way?
Please share more ways we can fully umask the grace of God in our lives as this list is not conclusive.
God bless,
Nelly.
