Do you ever struggle with striving to earn the love of Jesus? Do you find it hard to let go of trying to be perfect? I’d like to let you in on a little secret-me too!
My nature has always been to do everything perfectly and when I don’t, I tend to beat myself up. I often take the goal to “do all things with excellence to the extreme.”
I’ve come a long way and I’m definitely growing in this area, but at times, I find myself slipping right back into the striving and performing for Jesus.
Recently, I was really struggling in this area, again. In fact, I remember telling my husband and I knew that God loves me just the way I am, but I’m having a hard time letting go of the need to work for his love.
John 3:16 (NIV) For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
God loves us so much that he sent his one and only Son into the World to die for us. He didn’t wait for us to have it all together and be perfect, he sent his Son to die for us while we were still in sin.
1 John 4:9-11 (NIV) This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
I took note of the fact that verse 10 says, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
God didn’t wait for us to show how much we loved him.
He took the first step.
He sent his Son for us.
Romans 5:1 (NIV) Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Just today, I was listening to a sermon and the speaker was talking about grace through faith. He took the time to mention that one definition of justified is ”just as if I have never sinned.”
How powerful! When you and I receive God’s free gift of salvation, it’s “just as if we had never sinned!”
Jesus blood took the punishment for our sins and if we truly receive the free gift he died to give, we are actually free.
So what happens when I strive to be perfect?
When I strive to be perfect, I’m essentially telling God that his sacrifice isn’t enough. That I need to/have to do something to earn his love.
That I need to/have to do something to earn his love.
A portion of an old Hillsong from my teen years comes to mind:
“So You Would Come”
“Nothing you can do can make him love you more,
Nothing that you’ve done, could make him close the door,
All because of his great love, he gave his only Son,
Everything was done So You Would Come.”
How do I let go of trying to be perfect?
#1 Trust that God is who he says he is.
#2 Be Still and Listen to his voice
#3 Get rid of worldly distractions
#4 Stop comparing myself to others
#5 Seek Jesus with all my heart.
None of this guarantees perfection.
In fact, I’m only beginning to learn how to let go of trying to be perfect.
I don’t believe that any of us will actually arrive on this side of heaven.
However, as we begin to pursue our heavenly Father with all our hearts, we will see him being made real inside of us.
And that’s how I get go of trying to be perfect!
If you enjoyed this content, I’d love if you’d take a moment to share with a friend or via social media.
Linking Up: Wise Women Linkup
Salt and Light Linkup; Tune in Thursdays
*All Photos are Mine*