God's Not Calling You To Be Perfect, He's Calling You to Be Great

As Christians, we tend to put a lot of pressure on ourselves to be perfect. Why do we strive for perfection? Is it because it was traditionally imparted into us as believers, that once you get saved you have to completely be a new person from the start. Or could it be our emotions overthinking, now that we are saved we have to be perfect with no mess-ups and falls. As Christians, I believe we put this pressure on ourselves because, in reality, we don’t want to let God down. We constantly put ourselves through various questions such as: What can I improve to be where my mentor is? How do I improve my prayer life to be just like my Pastor? When we start questioning and comparing ourselves to other people's journey, we tend to create a roadblock in our own lives that we must overcome. The bible says it so profoundly that the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). The enemy will try everything in his power to try to break you down and turn away from the Father who has loved you from the moment He formed you (Jeremiah 1:5). It’s in this time as Christians that we must learn not to knock ourselves down or compare ourselves to other people's journey, but to walk the path that God has planted before us. He is the Father who knows the plans that He has for you (Jeremiah 29:11). When I look back at the time when I gave my life to Christ at the age of 13, I was broken, depressed, ashamed, and lost in a world that I never fully understood. I didn’t know how to study the Word and how to pray. I started looking at leaders and pastors for how they pray. Then it came to a point where I started to mimic them, which was not good for my personal growth as a believer. I then realized that once you compare yourself to others you tend to make them your focus instead of God. Then, I realized that it had to do with the culture I was taught, and I needed to break that culture. I had to come to a place where I had to change my mindset and find the path that God wanted me on. When I look at people in the bible that served God but were not perfect, I think of David. He fell so many times but in the end, he served God with all his might. God says that David was a man that chased after His heart (Act 11:22). This verse reminds me that we as Christians have to chase after God's heart. We have to develop a personal and intimate relationship with our Father in Heaven. God is saying to us as believers that He never expects us to be perfect, but to chase after His heart and to let Him mold us into what He has created us to be. For God is the potter and we are the clay (Isaiah 64:8). Growth doesn’t happen overnight, it takes you as a believer to allow God to enter into your life and fill the areas that you need help with. You are not walking alone, God is there guiding you and giving you the strength to persevere through. Don’t try to be perfect but try to be Great, you are exactly where God needs you to be. Much Love From Yours Truly, Colleen 💖