Letting go of self-imposed limitations and overcoming spiritual struggles
When I say “falling short,” that may make you feel bad, like you’re not doing enough.
I mean, you aren’t, but that shouldn’t make you feel bad 😁, it should inspire you to change.
I didn’t say it to criticize but to enlighten you.
The only way to be better is to identify your weaknesses or shortcomings and find solutions to them.
So you need to ask yourself: “Where am I falling short in my faith? What self-imposed limitations do I have that are holding me back, or worse, holding God back?
Note- You can’t literally hold God back, but if you refuse to work with Him, you can miss out on the blessings He has for you. There is a false teaching (normally in prosperity gospel) that you can’t miss what God has for you, but God says differently.
“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?”— Esther 4:14
God doesn’t give up on you, but if you repeatedly refuse to act when He calls on you then you can miss the blessings He intended for you in that moment or in that season of your life.
God wants to use you, but He will choose someone else if YOU choose not to act.
You have to be ready to do the limitless things He’s going to call you to do but you can’t do that if you are falling short in areas of your life that steal your focus, or make you doubt, or that you prioritize over God.
For me, my strongholds were:
- My attitude towards my weight
- Caring too much of what others thought of me (insecurity)
- Allowing my fears to take root (Anxiety)
- Having a negative and pessimistic outlook on everything
- Quick to make excuses instead of solutions
- No discipline (like at all 🥲)
- Lustful thinking
- Pride (which is behind probably everything in the list above lol— it really is the fall of man)
Overcoming spiritual struggles requires first that you Identify your strongholds.
List them out if that’s helpful and then identify how God instructs us to deal with those particular sins.
Which, yes, all of those are sins, but that’s ok! We are sinful.
God knows this; nobody who gives their life to Christ has to feel bad about it.
We just need to be aware of our sin, choose to hate it, and repent of it. Remember, Jesus took away our guilt and shame on the cross!
For me, these particular passages combated my strongholds:
“Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”—Romans 12:2 (CSB)
and this verse…
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.
This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.—Proverbs 3:5-8 (NIV)
These two helped me disrupt intrusive thoughts and combat my excuses. As well as fueled my desire for God’s Word.
“And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope.”—Romans 5:3-4 (CSB)
This scripture helped me endure through trials joyfully without grumbling and even come to respect and appreciate them, as I knew they were growing and refining me.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law” Galatians 5:22-23 (TBD)
These verses helped me practice discipline and be more intentional about my behavior. I stopped to think about why I did or did not do things, and oftentimes I’d realize it was because I was making an excuse or justification for my sinfulness.
“He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”—Matthew 22:37-40 (CSB)
This passage really helped me get my priorities straight and reminded me of who my life is really about. The less I thought of myself, the better I felt and the more I was able to achieve.
Imagine that 😜
Spend some time finding scripture that speaks to your particular issues, and remember to pray on these things.
Continuous prayer keeps you out of your head and replaces your often unhelpful thoughts with God’s very helpful Truth.
Honestly, I’ve spent too much time with myself, so I gladly welcome God into my head when I need more than my own company.
I encourage you to do the same!
My prayer for the body of Christ:
Father God,
We invite You into our hearts and minds today to be an overwhelming presence of good and righteousness that will remind and encourage us to remain faithful, strong, and humble.
We pray that You show us where we can improve upon our likeness to Christ and keep us focused on the task of honoring You through obedience directed by Your grace and guidance.
Lastly, we thank You for Your grace that gives us the freedom to come to You with such a prayer as this one and the blessings that You rain down on Your people to live out the lives You called them to live for such times as these!
In Jesus Christ, we praise and give thanks!
Amen.
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