Does living a Christian life seem to be overwhelming to you sometimes? So many bad habits to overcome, so many flawed thought patterns to be straightened out, so many principles still to learn, and so many relationships to heal and/or nurture--do you feel you haven't got it in you to do it all?
Thankfully, Peter gives us some encouragement and instruction in living a godly life that I think will help take some of the pressure off:
"I am writing to all of you who share the same precious faith we have, faith given to us by Jesus Christ, our God and Savior, who makes us right with God.
May God bless you with his special favor and wonderful peace as you come to know Jesus, our God and Lord, better and better.
As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life. He has called us to receive his own glory and goodness! And by that same mighty power, he has given us all of his rich and wonderful promises. He has promised that you will escape the decadence all around you caused by evil desires and that you will share in his divine nature.
So make every effort to apply the benefits of these promises to your life. Then your faith will produce a life of moral excellence. A life of moral excellence leads to knowing God better. Knowing God leads to self-control. Self-control leads to patient endurance, and patient endurance leads to godliness. Godliness leads to love for other Christians, and finally you will grow to have genuine love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more you will become productive and useful in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 1:1b-8)
God blesses us with faith, with favor, with peace, with His promises and His power. As a follower of Christ, you've got it all in the Holy Spirit that is within you right now. All you have to do is lean on Him and take small steps forward (not all at once!) in growing "to have genuine love for everyone." You can do it, sister!
by Wendie Beddingfield
picture by Gail Rau
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