If you read my emails on a regular basis, you’ll notice I missed the last two days of sending out devotions. It wasn’t deliberate and I was fully prepared to send out a big subscriber email apologizing and explaining what had happened. I felt I owed you all an explanation… that I had to justify my slacker behavior. This is what I do. I’m hard on myself. I expect perfection. I live life with unrealistic expectations (i.e. to never miss a day of scheduling). But while stewing over these thoughts, I felt the Lord prompt my heart with a passage of scripture I’ve been meditating on for the past few weeks.
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1
… and this is what I felt Him speak to me, which I’m now sharing with you…
“I didn’t die so you could be burdened with the pressures of this life. Your life represents a greater perspective and a higher purpose. Always embrace grace.”
Translation:
It’s okay to cut yourself some slack.
That’s the beautiful thing about our Savior.
He rescues us with kindness when we’re unwilling to be kind to ourselves.
He lavishes us with grace when we strive to live with unrealistic expectations.
He pours out mercy when we feel like we’ve let everyone down, including ourselves.
And He embraces us with unconditional love when we can’t seem to throw a little forgiveness in our own direction.
All that to say, spend a few moments today reading the book of Galatians while cutting yourself some slack and reminding yourself that He says it’s okay.
His strength is made perfect in our weakness anyway.
