Don't Take Yourself Off God's Team Because You Don't Think You're Good Enough

Matthew 5:48 & Galatians 5:7- 8

Soul Food

“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
- Matthew 5:48 (NIV)

“You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.”
- Galatians 5:7-8 (NIV)

Soul Search

• Have you ever given up trying to do something because the task seemed impossible? What was it?

• How did you finally handle it?

• Have you ever felt the pressure to be like someone else? Who were you pressured to be like?

• Did you put that pressure on yourself or did someone else put that pressure on you?

• The person you felt pressure to be like: Was that person a good, moral role model or was that person a bad, immoral role model?

• Did you conform and become like them or did you stop trying to do that?

• Whichever way you chose, what were the results?

• Do you believe that God loves you and accepts you even when you make mistakes or make poor choices?

• How do you receive God’s love and forgiveness?

Soul Moves

• Ask God, in prayer, to show you who your role model or models are to be.
  He will only show you good, moral people because He wants you to gain the character qualities that reflect who Jesus is and confirm what the Bible says a godly man or woman looks like.
  Make a list of the qualities that person or those people have that you want to also have.

• Similarly, ask God to show you who NOT to be like.
  Make a list of things about them that, with God’s help, you won’t allow to be part of your life and character.
  As you go about your daily life be aware when some of those negative characteristics come out in you and ask God to help you deal with them.

• If someone in your life put negative and possibly stressful pressure on you to become someone you aren’t, consider whether or not you need to forgive that person.
  Ask God to release you from the pressure you have been under. Ask God to give you the strength and desire to forgive that person.

• Are you the one putting pressure on someone in your life to be something or someone that they aren’t?
  Ask God to show you if you need to back off.
  Ask God if you’re supposed to go to that person and ask their forgiveness for unintentionally putting a heavy load on them.