Lately, I’ve been struggling with some old triggers that pop up every once in a while. Occasionally, I find I get paralyzed by wanting to do things well for Jesus, and I can wait too long to step out and do what I feel God is leading me to do. At other times when I do step out in obedience, I can overthink it and beat myself up with thoughts of doing it wrong, not saying what I meant to say, or of wrong timing. This is an old trigger that rears its head every once in a while and tries to stop me from walking out the life Jesus created me for.

I know where this root comes from, and it is a giant I have slayed, but the enemy of my soul likes to use the same old tricks to trip us up. Rejection is the root of this one, and when I am in giant-slaying mode, I realize this. However, sometimes I may be a little slow at getting my sword out, the Word of God, and reminding the devil who I am in Christ. Truthfully, sometimes I forget for a moment who I am in Christ when I get sideswiped.

This morning as I was talking with Jesus about this struggle, the Holy Spirit truly met me in my battle and whispered these words to me:

You are a work in progress, not a work of perfection.

Wow. I repeated these words over and over. They began to slowly rest in my spirit and sink down deep into my soul. I’m a work in progress. For all my days on this earth, I am a work in progress. That will never change.

A Work in Progress

God’s Word reminds us in 2 Corinthians 3:18: But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

I am so grateful that God is transforming me into His image and is taking me from glory to glory. It’s not a one-time transformation but a growing one. As I focus on Jesus, I am being transformed and matured into His likeness. It’s about the journey with Jesus and growing in my faith and walk with God. Being transformed day by day through all of my days here on earth.

Not a Work of Perfection

Philippians 3:12-14 says,
Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

I will never be perfect, and either will you. I say this to encourage you, just as it inspires me. No man will ever be perfect, do things exactly right or have it all together. I can’t because I’m human, and I wasn’t created to be perfect. Only Jesus, our Savior, is perfect and without sin.

We are all human. We all make mistakes. The beauty is so simple. God is looking for obedient hearts, not perfect hearts. When I step out and do something, it’s not going to be perfect. I may mess up in how I deliver things. My timing could be off at times, but God looks at my heart, and he’s looking at yours. I’m going to continue to press on towards the prize in and through Jesus, knowing God loves me, accepts me, and is even proud of me with my mistakes, mess-ups, and all. As my pastor preached recently, “just do something” is so much better than nothing.

So, today, tomorrow, and the days after, I will continue to remind myself when I get tripped up by this old trigger of these beautiful words the Holy Spirit whispered to my heart,

Kristin, you are a work in progress, not a work of perfection.

May these words encourage your heart today as well. We are all a work in progress and Jesus loves our obedient hearts.

I would love to hear what God is stirring in your heart today. Please be sure to share with me 🙂