This Week: Let Go of Perfectionism
Next Week: How Is Your Eyesight?

Living Free Every Day®
A ministry of LivingFree.org

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Today's Scripture

"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 NLT

Thoughts for Today

"I won't be loved unless I am perfect."

Perfectionism often comes from a need for love and approval. Our society, and many of us as individuals and families, determine a person's value by his or her performance. And so we set out to earn that value . . . We strive to be successful, especially in the eyes of people who mean the most to us. Better job. More money. Higher grades. Greater popularity. Funnier. Smarter. The list goes on . . .

The good news is that God, the Creator of the Universe, loves us unconditionally. We could never earn his love - and we don't have to. He loved us even when we were running from him.

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. (Romans 5:8 NLT)

That's why you are valuable. Not because of what you've done, but because God created you just the way you are, and you are important to him. He loves you unconditionally, and nothing can ever separate you from his love.

Consider this …

When you allow your self-image to plummet because of what others think of you, it's easy to forget what God thinks of you. You may start thinking . . .

But God, I can't . . .

What if I fail . . .

What if they stop loving me . . .

I would do anything to get their approval . . .

Maybe if I do this better, they will . . .

Instead of molding your life to gain the love and approval of others, focus on God's love for you.

With Christ's strength, you can do all things. He has a plan and purpose for your life and will equip you to fulfill it. With God, nothing is impossible.

Prayer

Father, thank you for your unconditional love. Thank you that nothing can ever separate me from your love. Help me to always remember I am special because you care about me and designed me for a purpose. In Jesus' name . . .

These thoughts were drawn from …

Seeing Yourself in God's Image: Overcoming Anorexia and Bulimia by Martha Homme, MA, LPC. Written by a counselor with experience helping those with eating disorders, this study is born from her own struggles in adolescence. The group challenges members to find their identity in Christ as they overcome this difficult struggle. This guide offers understanding of distorted body image, denial, and the family systems influence. It also explains how to break free of social pressures and how to restore the temple and tie the recovery process together. A companion booklet Seeing Your Loved One in God's Image, can be used as a quick reference guide dealing with issues associated with eating disorders. Note: This curriculum was written especially for small groups, and we encourage people to use it that way. However, it can also be used effectively as a personal study for individuals or couples.

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