As you’re learning to trust God on your journey of faith, do you tend to be hard on yourself?
Getting frustrated when you miss the mark time and time again?
Is it sometimes hard to accept Jesus’ mercy and forgiveness because you think, “I should know better by now?”
Well sis, I want you to know the vastness of God’s compassion toward you.
A compassion that gets you to open up, let go of the guilt and rest in Him.
Because when you rest in Him you find freedom.
You’re free, unbound, and able to look up instead of within; placing the focus back where it belongs. On Jesus.
I was blown away by Jesus’ compassion.
You see, I’ve had high hopes and dreams for my life, but I just couldn’t pull myself out of the bad habits that kept me stuck year after year.
I would say to the Lord: “I see the future I’ve dreamt about, but how do I even get there?” And: “Aren’t you tired of me praying for this thing over and over again?”
“Lord, you’ve called me to eat wisely, but I’m back into my fast food habits again. You’ve surrounded me with prayer warriors, but I can’t even get my own prayers off the ground. And Lord, right now I just feel weak and tired.”
All these questions and frustrations kept me from passionately pursuing God.
I was creating a standard for my life that I just couldn’t live up to. God wanted to work on unbinding me from fear, while instead, I was trying to “police” my bad habits, thinking they were the problem.
Soon I became fearful in my quiet time, my body racked with anxiety because I knew I wasn’t measuring up…and feeling defeated, I’d run away in tears.
The fear was sneaky.
But you know what?
Every time I stayed, pressed in and took my stand against fear…I felt the chains loosen as faith and freedom rose in my heart.
And with fear out of the way, the truth became clear: Jesus’ compassion for me. I felt it so strong, and it never relented or wavered, but kept growing.
For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 NKJV
God looks past our imperfect steps toward Him and sees our hearts.
God longs to mend your broken heart because when He does… you can finally walk in the freedom Jesus paid for.
And when you’re walking in that freedom…Lookout!! The enemy better run and hide, amiright???
Jesus’ compassion allows us to fail, get back up, joyfully forget the past, and move on toward His plans and purposes for our life.
And what a joy it is, to know “in your knower” that Jesus has not one ounce of condemnation towards you.
So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1
Romans lets us know that condemnation has already been dealt with on the cross. Sis, no one can accuse you anymore.
And God knows your weaknesses.
He knew everything about you before you were created, yet still loves you, went to the cross, and calls you friend.
How easily you can dust yourself off and take off running towards Him again.
Let His compassion carry you forward.
In all their suffering He also suffered, and He personally rescued them. In His love and mercy, He redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them through all the years. Isaiah 63:9
Jesus’ compassion fueled my faith.
Sitting in my car, feeling nothing but His compassion, believing I should be feeling His rebuke… I was truly blown away.
I thought Lord, this is just too much.
And when I allowed myself to relax into His love and acceptance, letting go of trying to punish myself…my faith was restored. My joy and peace were restored. My hope was restored.
Jesus was already doing a work on the inside of me, stripping me of fear in unexpectant ways.
I encourage you to let go, sis.
Go ahead and give it to God, whatever it is. Even if you’ve given it to Him a thousand times. Take that leap and allow the Lord to bathe you in His love, grace, mercy, and peace as He continues His work on the inside of you; towards freedom from fear.
Thank you Jesus for your compassion. I love you, Lord.
Scriptures & Declarations for Meditation
Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! Isaiah 30:18
Lord, You long to be gracious to me. I will wait on You.
Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones. Isaiah 49:13
Lord, You will bring comfort and compassion in this situation. Thank you, Lord.
Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10
Lord, I will stand firm on your unmoveable and unshakeable love and compassion towards me.
As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him; Psalm 103:13
The Lord looks past my failures and into my heart, ready to take me in with His compassion, grace, and mercy.
A bruised reed He will not break And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice. Isaiah 42:3
The Lord is gentle and patient with me and will faithfully bring forth His justice in every situation.
Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:36
Jesus sees my situation and feels compassion for me.
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake, He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9
I am rich in God’s love, grace and mercy because Jesus became poor and went low for my sake.
For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:5
I have a God who is well acquainted with my pain and suffering and sympathizes with my weakness. When I am weak, you are strong in me. Amen
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