Have you been told God loves you, but you must toe the line?

Do you find yourself trying hard not to fail Him, and yet when you do, you’re saying you’re sorry over and over and feeling shame?

Do you feel like life would be better without trying to follow all the rules?

I hear you.

I’ve been there. I came to know Jesus when I was 17, but yet I had been taught to do all the things and follow all the rules. I grew up Southern Baptist and we were taught, you don’t drink, you don’t dance, you don’t chew, and you don’t go with boys that do. You also must have a quiet time every day.

Yet, it’s nowhere in the Bible that you should not drink or dance. In fact, there are countless account of dancing and praising God, and Jesus turned water into wine.

That all left me confused. I thought God was loving, but why do I feel like He is judging me every single moment and I feel I am never enough to be loved by Him?

The answer?

Satan.

It took me years to discover this truth I am going to share with you, and I pray it helps you begin to see it too.

Nothing should be done in excess. That includes drinking.

If something is a stumbling block to you or someone else, then it’s a sin. If dancing in a sexy way is what you are doing and it’s leading you to not honor God, then it’s not good for you.

If you have confessed with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, believe in your heart God raised him from the dead, you are a child of God. Recognizing you are a sinner in need of saving, then Jesus took all that judgement you feel on Himself on the cross. Why do we pick it back up?

Satan. He comes to steal kill and destroy. That’s his goal. So, if he can make you feel that what Jesus did wasn’t enough, that’s his goal. He can’t keep you from heaven once you know Jesus, so his goal is to make you unable to do God’s work on earth in whatever way he can.

The truth is that walking daily with Jesus is not about a checklist. God is not keeping track of how many verses you memorized, how much of the Bible you read today, if you stopped to spend uninterrupted time with Him, etc.

Here’s why.

He wants a relationship with you. Just like any relationship you grow it by living life with that person. It’s sharing the good, bad, and ugly. It’s failing them and you apologizing. It’s not about how many presents you buy that person, how much you do for them, but how you love and spend time together.

It’s the same with God.

When you start your day in bed asking Him to get in your head before you do. When you reach for your Bible before your phone. When you go throughout your day whispering prayers and talking to Him all day long. “Hey God, I’m heading to an appointment and I ask you to go with me, and place protection around me as I drive. Give _________ wisdom as they help me. Help me honor you and continue to walk with me today.” or “I’m having a rough day, God. I need you. ” or when you have no words, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.” The Holy Spirit will intercede for you.

Don’t get stuck on that checklist, and don’t get stuck on how you failed to seek Him before your phone, or this or that. God sent Jesus to take all that from you. All of that condemnation, is of Satan. (John 3:17 “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

Come back to God, and just apologize, ask forgiveness and repent. To repent simply means to turn away and not do it again. However, here’s what God knows about us. He knows we will fail. Yet He loves us anyway. Nothing can change how much He loves us. It does grieve Him when we replace other things for what He wants to be to us.

As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, it’s okay to let go of people who don’t push you to see this. If someone is being pharisaical about the fact you have to spend so much uninterrupted time with God, then they are not the right friend.

What I found is when I let go of these checklists and expectations, when I recognize the condemnation and focus more on true conviction from the Holy Spirit, then I want to be in relationship with God. I want to spend more time with Him every moment. In the shower, car, fixing lunch, working…all of it. I want to be in relationship with Him because He loves me. I want to fill my mind with His word because that is His guide and love letter to me. It then is not something I have to do, but something I get to do.

He is patient and kind. He is for you, so don’t let Satan convince you God’s grace is for everyone except you. It is free for everyone!

God has walked me through countless dark times, and I am so glad He didn’t give up on me. I found this song by Olivia Lane recently and it says, “It’s so nice to finally meet you. Why was I so afraid? I have so much left to learn. But thank God, you’re not who I thought you were.”

Thank God He is not who I thought He was!! He saw me in the valleys and still loved me! He sees you too and loves you, my friend! 

Thank you, God!  

Go walk through your day with Him today and speak to Him in all you do and watch how He begins to change your heart and mind from hearing condemnation to hearing His truth! As you head into your day, listen to Olivia Lane’s Song here: (And check out her others because they are so good! She is a former atheist who found Jesus 8 years ago!)    “Who I Thought you Were”

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