Grace is one word I have come to appreciate, but I honestly cannot fathom the depth of it. To have the grace of God is to have his unmerited favor and love. His grace is freely given and we did nothing to deserve it. I don’t know about you but I need his grace daily. Like just pour it all over me from head to toe! I can’t go a single day without messing up. I could list all the ways I fall short, but I will spare you some time because it could be a very long list. He continues to love me despite my failures and because of his love for us we need to learn to show grace to ourselves. After all we can be our biggest critics.
We all have those bad days where we just can’t seem to get anything right. Usually, it turns into a mental battle against ourselves. What is wrong with me? Why can’t I be like so and so? Why am I so stupid? I mess everything up. Blah, blah, blah. I hope you realize that when you criticize yourself, you are also criticizing your Creator. After all, he made you. Yes, we all have flaws. God knows that. We will make mistakes. God is aware of this as well. We all have things we wish we could change but it’s not healthy to continue with the negative self-talk. It can be audible or internal, either way it does damage and the longer you speak it to yourself the more you start to believe it. You must realize that our enemy loves this act of self- condemnation. He is the one who put it in your mind in the first place. He wants you to doubt your purpose in Christ. He wants you to think that you are worthless and not enough. He wants you to think that you have made too many mistakes to be usable by God. These are nothing but straight up lies!! Think of what God has done for you. Your value and worth meant enough to Jesus that he gave his own life for it so that you may have a chance of redemption and eternal life with him. He loves you not just with words but with his actions.
When you have a terrible day, or you have made a mess of things it doesn’t mean you are a bad person. A bad day doesn’t equate to a bad week or a bad life. (Read those first two sentences again if needed) It is just a bad moment or two. Get up, dust yourself off and give yourself grace and carry on with God’s help. Ask him to remind you of his truth. Quite often I pray for encouragement not only for myself but my family too. We need it daily especially in the days we are living in. Everything on any type of media source seems to be so negative and distracting. If you don’t think it is harmful to your mindset, think again. It is necessary to take a break from TV and your phone from time to time. It helps de-clutter our minds from all the information we take in. It really does cloud our thinking. I promise you if you step back and take a break your mindset will gain some clarity and peace.
“Give yourself grace” has become a phrase I use often with my kids. I know too well what it feels like to beat yourself up daily for your shortcomings. It isn’t worth it. It gains nothing. All it does is make the heap of lies you’re carrying around about yourself get heavier. Jesus came to set us free from these thoughts that chain us down, things that imprison us and keep us from being who he created us to be. Do not let the negative thoughts consume you. Do not let the hard days win. Keep on keeping on. If you are breathing then you have a purpose and your life has meaning. Do not let your enemy defeat you with his deceitful whispers. Remind him and yourself of who you belong to and claim the win. Christ is the victor. The battle has been won. Own it and stand on it. Jesus didn’t die on that cross so you would be shackled down by lies. He came to break those chains and set you free. His mercies and grace are new every morning to give you a fresh start. Grab hold of it. Soak it in and rise back up knowing that God is for you and with you.
Keep moving forward,
Hayley W
Unpolished & Imperfect 