GRACE FOR PERFECTIONISTS

Do you try hard to be perfect in every way?
Are you afraid of letting your hear down?
Do you wonder if you are good enough?
Are you tired of trying to succeed?

Watchman Nee has said “Many Christians endeavor to drive themselves by will-power, and then think the Christian life a most exhausting and bitter one.” But will-power or self-help does not work. It’s not about us making ourselves perfect or useful. It’s not about us producing fruit. It’s not about us making ourselves worthy.

Success does not get us into the kingdom of God, failure does not keep us out of there. The only thing than matters is our trust in Jesus.

The fulfillment of God’s promise depends entirely on trusting God and his way, and then simply embracing him and what he does. God’s promise arrives as pure gift. That’s the only way everyone can be sure to get in on it. (Romans 4:16, MSG)

It does not matter how perfect (or not) we are.
It’s not about us trying to be perfect.
It’s about us trusting and embracing God and his ways.

The difference between trying and trusting is the difference between law and grace. Either you live in law or you live in grace. Either you exhaust yourself under the law or you rest in God’s free grace.

My grace is enough for you, because power is made perfect in weakness. (2 Cor.12:9 CEB)

But, but, but, you say. No buts, my friend. God is in the business of creating new life. He does not just fix our problems or help us a little bit. God creates new life all together. In us.

MARI-ANNA FRANGEN STALNACKE

Christ is building you into a place where God lives through the Spirit.(Eph. 2:22, CEB)

When we are new creatures in Christ, God is living in us.
When we live in the Spirit, God works through us.
When we rest in grace, God is active in us, for us, through us.
When we trust God, things will get done.

Simple. Yet so powerful and true.

It’s not about us being or trying to be perfect.
It’s about us trusting God and enjoying the ride.

Grace is a game changer, eye opener, freedom-releaser.
We can quit trying and embrace trusting.

(PRAY WITH ME):Gracious God, Thank you that we don’t need to be perfect. Help us to dare to bear our souls and let us hair down. Enable us to trust you completely and stop trying on our own. Refresh our weary souls. Redeem and restore! Teach us what it is to rest in your grace. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE OF MARI-ANNA'S WONDERFULLY INSPIRING WORK!

USE YOUR FAITH!

Do you ever wish you had more faith? I have good news for you. Your faith is beautiful. It is a gift from God. You don’t need more faith. What? That’s what Jesus said.

The apostles came up and said to the Master, “Give us more faith.” But the Master said, “You don’t need more faith. There is no ‘more’ or ‘less’ in faith. If you have a bare kernel of faith, say the size of a poppy seed, you could say to this sycamore tree, ‘Go jump in the lake,’ and it would do it. (Luke 17:5-6, MSG)

Faith is a gift from God.

There’s no ‘more’ or ‘less’ in faith.

Faith is faith.

What we need to do is to use our faith.

Believe, pray, trust.

Put it in practice.

What we need to do is to take care of our faith.
Nourish, water, tend.
Grow in grace.

What we need to do is to live out our faith.
Share, embrace, celebrate.
Live in grace. 

Gracious God,

Thank you for the gift of faith!
Thank you that you’ve prepared everything for us.
Show us how to embrace faith for real.
Enable us to believe without hesitation.
Help us to take care of our faith.
Empower us to practice our faith
and live it it out loud.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: How do you grow in your faith?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you put your beautiful faith in practice!

Written by by Mari-Anna Stålnacke ( TWITTER - @flowingfaith)

Website: CLICK HERE

Image courtesy of Brandon Johnson.  Linking up today with Thought-Provoking Thursdays and  Faith Filled Friday.

DO YOU RECOGNIZE JESUS?

by Mari-Anna Stålnacke of Finland!

Jesus was not just any teacher. Jesus came so the dark corners of our lives could be restored. Jesus came because without him we would not be whole. His life, death, and resurrection changed our destiny. Yet many of us still live in darkness.

Jesus arrives quietly, humbly, and in peace. 
Do we recognize Jesus in the middle of our Christmas celebrations?

Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion.
Sing aloud, Daughter Jerusalem.
Look, your king will come to you.
He is righteous and victorious.
He is humble and riding on an ass,
on a colt, the offspring of a donkey.(Zechariah 9: 9, CEB, emphasis added)

Mari-Anna Stalnacke

Traditionally, entering the city on a donkey is seen as arriving in peace rather than as a king arriving on a warhorse. Jesus came in peace. He was a humble King who came on a colt. The world is used to warhorses and arrogant egos. We tend to pass by quiet and lowly things. That happened to many 2000 years ago. And that happens today.

Jesus arrives quietly, humbly, and in peace. 
Do we recognize Jesus in the middle of our Christmas celebrations?

He will cut off the chariot from Ephraim
and the warhorse from Jerusalem.
The bow used in battle will be cut off;
he will speak peace to the nations.
His rule will stretch from sea to sea,
and from the river
to the ends of the earth.
Moreover, by the blood of your covenant, 
I will release your prisoners 
from the waterless pit. 
Return to the stronghold, 
prisoners of hope.
(Zechariah 9: 1o-12, CEB, emphasis added)

Jesus did not come to impress the strong but strengthen prisoners. Jesus came to free the captive. What does held you captive today? Bitterness, fear, doubt, greed, worries, sin, selfishness? That’s why you need Jesus. That’s why Jesus came.

To set you free.
To make you whole.
To bring you hope and future.

Jesus arrives quietly, humbly, and in peace. 
Do we recognize Jesus in the middle of our Christmas celebrations?

Gracious God,

Thank you for coming for us.
We need you!
We need to be set free!
Come, Lord Jesus!
Thank you for coming in peace.
Help us to seize the real things.
Enable us to recognize you.
Come, Lord Jesus!
Bless us with your peace.
Bless us with your grace.
Bless us with your presence.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: Do you look for Jesus? How do you recognize him?

(Linked back to HERE - Mari's website)

(image by Google images)