WEDNESDAYS DEVOTION :)

[Guest guest]

FROM: THE WOMEN'S DEVOTIONAL BIBLE 2

FREEDOM FROM PERFECTIONISM

BY CYNTHIA HEALD

AM I NOW TRYING TO WIN THE

APPROVAL OF MEN, OR OF GOD?

OR AM I TRYING TO PLEASE

MEN? IF I WERE STILL TRYING TO

PLEASE MEN, I WOULD NOT BE A

SERVANT OF CHRIST.

_____________VERSE: GALATIANS 1:10

_________PASSAGE: GALATIANS 1:1-10

A LINGERING WEIGHT I CARRY FROM MY PAST IS WANTING TO BE PERFECT IN

ORDER TO BE ACCEPTED BY GOD AND OTHER PEOPLE. WHENEVER I FAIL, I TEND TO

WANT TO DISAPPEAR FROM THE PLANET. I BERATE MYSELF AND RENEW MY VOW

NEVER TO LET IT HAPPEN AGAIN!

IT ENCOURAGES ME TO HEAR PAUL SAY THAT HE WAS NOT PERFECT AND THAT HE

WOULD NOT ALLOW HIS PAST TO DICTATE HI PRESENT BEHAVIOR (SEE PHILIPPIANS

3:12-16). GOD CERTAINLY DOES NOT EXPECT ME TO BE PERFECT; IN A SENSE HE

IS PLEASED WHEN I DO SOMETHING RIGHT! IT HAS BEEN FREEING TO ME TO KNOW

THAT GOD CAN BREAK DESTRUCTIVE PATTERNS. HE CAN GUIDE US INTO

CONFRONTING THE DEEP WOUNDS OF OUR PAST BY GIVING US WISE COUNSELORS,

FAITHFUL FRIENDS AND HIS SPIRIT. HE, AND ONLY HE, CAN TAKE AWAY OUR SIN

AND GUILT.

GOD IS IN THE BUSINESS OF FREEDOM AND NEWNESS, AND IT IS WHEN I

ACKNOWLEDGE MY PAST AND CONFESS MY SIN THAT I CAN BEGIN TO EXPERIENCE

HIS LIBERTY. HE GIVES NEW LIVES FOR OLD.

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ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE READINGS:

PSALM 119:45

ROMANS 3:24

ROMANS 8:12-17

GENTLEHUGS AND PRAYERS

SAM