I should have done better.
Why did I do that?
I am such an idiot.
Ever spoken these words over yourself? I have.
I take all the things I have done and I judge them for my performance, my worth and my value.
As if these things are the summation of all that I am, can do and will be.
As if these things determine my day, my faith walk and my feelings.
I am hard, oh so hard on myself – hit-myself-with-a-2×4 hard sometimes.
But, is this even godly?
Is this even biblical?
The truth is:
1. He already handled them as he poured them all out over Jesus on the cross. (Is. 53:6)
2. He seizes them up and throws them out. (Jo. 1:29)
3. They are taken and covered by his holiness, grace and righteousness. (Ro. 4:7)
4. God moves my sin as far away as my hometown is from Chinatown. (Ps. 103:12)
5. They are lost, not to be found. Pardoned, for those he has saved. (Jer. 50:20)
6. Like a dead body thrown in the water, never to be seen again, God throws our old sins into the depth of the sea. (Mic. 7:19)
7. He remembers no word of them. (Heb. 10:17)
8. He blesses us in the process of removing our sin. (Ro. 4:8)
9. The guilt, the shame, the part that we feel responsible for – he nailed to that cross. (Col. 2:14)
10. He leaves us white, holy, renewed, revived, whole, complete, righteous, pardoned, sanctified and justified in him. (Ps. 51:17)
As the weight of sin moves out the weight of hope can move in.
A weight of hope that shows us:
- We are holding the hand of the innocent lamb, until the day his kingdom comes.
- There is a future, a plan and a glory awaiting us
because we belong the one to whom all our sin belonged. - There is nothing that can come against us,
because the deal is done, the war has been waged and the victory belongs to Jesus Christ. - The power of love is as attached to us as an arm-brand marking us as owned.
Jesus’ love is forever ours. - We have still-water peace always available through the power of knowing God,
not striving for him, but simply knowing.
Jesus died so we didn’t have to.
He sent the Spirit so we could live day-by-day with a new and living hope.
This power is alive and active – in us.
Do we rely on it?
Do we see it?
Or, do we operate by pounds and pounds, weight over weight of shame and guilt?
When we let the power of shame, guilt and discontentment take hold, the power of God is squelched. Yet, when we see God’s power for what it is – powerful – and his sin bashing skills for what they are – working, we live free to walk in the hope, love and grace that is Jesus.
I think I hear God calling me today, to let go of performance, praise and perfectionism. I pray, that with humble hearts, we all can let go of what we are not, to grab hold of all that Christ is (death that ends our death so that we can have life). The truth is that he rejoices over us and wants us to believe and activate the power he has already handed over.
“The LORD your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zeph. 3:17
Linking with #DanceWithJesus and #FiveMinuteFriday.
FMF neighbor to your right on the KM link up! I hope you have a lovely day, and thank you for these bullet points that shoot through the negative thoughts/self talk we give ourselves…replacing it with the Truth! <3 Jenn
Thanks Jenn.
woo hoo, you are definitely a cheerleader for the Lord!!
Great. I am so glad Danise. That is my biggest desire.
Amen !☺
Thank you Jesus, thank you Lord. You are worthy to be praised through out all generations.
THANKS KELLY.
You are a blessing.
Amen! He gets all the glory from us! Thank you Ifeoma.
One of the better “top ten” lists I’ve read in a while 😉
Sweet! So glad to hear that!
Kelly, I too am guilty of being so very hard on myself. It’s so easy to do. But then THIS: “As the weight of sin moves out the weight of hope can move in.” Yes that is so true. I am so thankful for Gods abundant hope! Visiting from FMF where I’m parked in the #9 spot.
Me too, our hope crushes all despair, that’s for sure.
What a timely post for me! Just yesterday I came home from work and said to my husband, “I’m not one to usually feel overwhelmed, but I do lately, in my job, at home, as a wife, parent, and as a daughter, and I’m failing miserably at everything!”
Your words here, “The truth is that he rejoices over us and wants us to believe and activate the power he has already handed over.” and the verse you shared from Zephaniah, spoke peace to me; that I might cease striving.
Thanks for sharing!
May God continue to pour out peace and love over you Karen.
I, too, am very hard on myself. Praying with you that “we all can let go of what we are not, to grab hold of all that Christ is!” Thank you, Kelly, for this encouraging message.
Amen Trudy, praying also. God is faithful to love us even when we mess up!
Oh Gosh… Oh Glory!
I stewed in that nasty stew most of my life, and though there is sometimes the hint of an aftertaste, Christ has set me free! Thank you for posting this. I think so many need to have the this laid out for them so that they can counter the lies with God’s Truth!
Found you at FMF I’m #10. Many blessings…
Praise God for Jesus’ power to set us free. I cheer this with you Colleen!
Kelly,
All I can say is, “Amen!” I used to think that there was something Biblical in beating myself up, but I have learned that self-shaming does not glorify God nor does it make Him happy. When I do that I am not accepting the one and only gift that can perfect me…and that is the blood of Jesus. Wonderful post on which to begin my weekend. Have a good one, Kelly!
Blessings,
Bev xx
It doesn’t. When we do that, we are actually lacking faith. I wonder where along the line we learned to be so adept at injuring ourself this way?
Great list. Oddly this is an occupational hazard for Christ followers who are REALLY trying to follow Him. It seems, as I have learned, the closer I come to CHRIST the more sensitive I become to my own sins. Hence: even the sins I once deemed small now seem so much bigger.
Of course this also Means that his GRACE is even bigger too which causes us to love him even more. But often times we are so beat up that we forget that last empowering sentence. Praise God for his awesome plan —- he that is forgiven much loves much. Luke 7:47
Keith, how right you are. It is easy to get focused on sins and to forget grace. His grace is bigger! Great words.
Thank you.
[…] 10 Reasons to Stop Being Hard on Yourself […]
I’m a guy and your words reached me too. Thank you.