The expression "nobody's perfect" is a familiar phrase, and it's true—I'm not perfect, you're not perfect, nobody's perfect. Hopefully, though, we're all on our way to being more like Christ every day. The apostle Paul said in Philippians 3:12 (AMP): Not that I have already obtained it [this goal of being Christlike] or have already been made perfect, but I actively press on so that I may take hold of that [perfection] for which Christ Jesus took hold of me and made me His own.
Have you ever wondered if something is holding you back from experiencing the promises of God? I remember a time in my life when I was hearing about all the promises of God but never actually experiencing them. I heard about peace, but I didn't have any. I heard about joy, but I was unhappy all the time. I could see God's promises in His Word and I believed them, but something was missing. As I spent time studying God's Word, I came to realize that the root of my problem was found in the wrong mindsets I was living with.
Romans 15:13 says, May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope) (AMPC). Over the last 40-plus years I've spent traveling and teaching God's Word around the world, I've met many incredible people from nearly every walk of life... Some were doing great, seemingly on top of the world. Others confided in me that they were barely getting by, living day-to-day, trying to make ends meet. And many others were dealing with circumstances so difficult that, quite frankly, they felt defeated and overwhelmed by life.
Loving and being loved are what make our lives worth living. Many people experience times in their lives when they feel unloved. During these times it's easy to dwell on those negative thoughts but allowing it to continue leads to unhappiness and depression. Love is the energy of life. It is what motivates people to get up each day and keep going. Love gives life purpose and meaning. Everywhere you look you see people searching for love…but they're looking in the wrong places. God is love, and they will never find what they're looking for until they find Him.
The Bible says, "we walk by faith" (see 2 Corinthians 5:7). I really like this wording because when we choose to follow God, it means we are trusting Him to lead us in the right direction. It means taking steps of faith, even when things don't make sense...even when we don't see "the bigger picture." Hebrews 11:1 (AMPC) gives a definition of faith. It says, ...faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality....
Do you ever feel like you're just checking off your to-do list? I know that I did for much of my life, and it made me totally miserable. I frustrated myself trying to do lots of good things in hopes that I might feel better about myself, but it was never a permanent solution. We all have a deep need to feel alright about ourselves. And we can spend a lot of time and energy trying to do things that make us feel like we're okay—okay with ourselves, with others and even with God. But we don't need to wear ourselves out trying to be right with God through our own effort. The truth is we can't make our lives right on our own—we need God.
Have you ever heard someone say, "There's just something about them."? People sometimes say this when they can't quite put their finger on what it is that makes a person stand out from the crowd. I like when I hear it said about someone who's a Christian. Because when we are led by the Holy Spirit and God's love flows through us, there is something that just draws attention—something beautiful and unique.
One of the greatest gifts God has given us is the power to choose. In fact, every day we are faced with literally hundreds of choices. The question is, "Are we making the right ones?" I love Proverbs 3:5-6. It says, Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, and He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way) (AMP).
What do you want out of life? Do you have a dream for your life, your children, your finances, or your marriage? Is there something you are hoping for - an idea, a goal, a plan, or vision? Whatever it is that you want, what is it going to take to reach it? We need to be reaching toward our dreams all the time because God didn't create us for passivity or to be static in life. So, if you've got your life in park, you need to get it in drive and start moving toward the dreams God has put in your heart. See, the things you want are not going to just fall into your lap.
How do you feel about yourself? Are you peaceful and free to enjoy your everyday life? Or do you feel guilty about something in the past that you can't change? I used to live with a constant feeling of guilt and shame because of the sexual abuse I experienced in my childhood, and I grew up feeling like something was wrong with me. I often thought, there has to be something wrong with me for my father to want to do that to me.
