I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. – Philippians 3:12 (NLT)
Stop the anger. I keep telling myself. For some reason, I seem to get mad really easy. And as much as I tell myself that tomorrow I won’t get mad, I usually do. So what do I do?
Do you have an area that you struggle in? Maybe it’s not anger for you, perhaps you struggle with overeating, pornography, or some other area in your life. Sometimes, sin is a really hard thing to feel like you can overcome.
However, there is hope.
First of all, realize that becoming more Christlike is a process. You’re not there yet. So don’t have an idea of ideal in your head, and get mad at yourself if you aren’t there yet. Realize that you’re making progress. Maybe you lost your temper four times yesterday, but if a year ago, you would lose your temper ten times a day, you’re making progress. Don’t beat yourself up if you’re not there yet. Celebrate the little wins along the way and know if you’re trying, you’re making progress.
Secondly, don’t base your worth on how good of a Christian or not you are. Yes, you should be trying to be more like Christ, but here’s the thing: you’re not Jesus. You’re not perfect. You will never be perfect. And God’s love for you is not based on your perfection (thank goodness!). God’s love for you is based on Jesus’ perfection. That’s good news.
Today’s Truth: God’s Love for you is based on Jesus’ perfection.
So today, if you’re struggling with sin, know this. God loves you. Even in your imperfection. Also, it’s ok to not be perfect. Making progress each day is a good thing. Don’t forget that you’re making progress and you’re doing better than you probably give yourself credit for.
