Does God Expect Perfection? - Friday Praise & Pray (for others) May 30, 2025
- P L U N D E R E R
- May 30
- 2 min read
Permit me to say something that may be shocking to some. God doesn't expect His children to be perfect.
When the Lord helped me understand this (and I confess I'm still coming to grips with it), I was stunned into complete silence. My brain couldn't accept the notion at first. When we think about Christianity, we think about rules and the chase for perfection. That is the main reason why many people reject faith. From their perspective, they feel they can never measure up to the standards we Christians project into the world as what is required to be a part of our community.
But the real challenge, if we accept it, is to submit to the perfecting work God is doing in us through the Holy Spirit. The more we do this, the easier it is to live righteously. We'll find ourselves making choices that reflect God's word and purpose over the desires that lead us to sin. All because, as we submit, the Spirit of the Lord leads us, and the mind of Christ, which was given to us, can truly have an impact.
Instead of letting go so God can lead us by way of His Spirit, we often choose to be 'religious,' thinking that following a set of strict rules will help us. However, God never intended things to be that way. He wants us to listen to His voice and do what He says, knowing there is grace. Our relationship with Him is supposed to be easy because Jesus died to make it that way. He also gave us His Spirit to teach and remind us of what we've forgotten. And as we read the scriptures and receive more godly input into our 'mainframe' (the gates of our eyes, mind, ears, heart), the easier it gets to obey God.
It seems many of us see the Spirit of God as an enemy who will take away everything we enjoy. However, we must remember that Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to those who believed in Him, and He never promised us anything bad. The Holy Spirit is tasked with getting us to heaven, so anything we give up for this will be well worth it, especially as we will receive the treasured fruits and gifts of the Spirit in return. The more we understand this, the less resistance there might be to letting God's Spirit lead in all truth. And more would seek to know Him, so He keeps them on God's path of righteousness.
When we allow the Spirit of the Lord to help us, we soon realize we don't need to be perfect. We need only to let Him perfect us throughout our lifetime, and the result will be that we enter a perfect place - heaven. We don't need to skip any steps in the development process by thinking we have to be perfect right now. We just need to let God have His way in us. He knows all of our struggles. Nothing about us surprises Him, and He's made accommodation to help through His Holy Spirit, whom we can only receive when we give our lives to Christ. The Lord will help us all, IJMN, Amen.
Some takeaways from today's fellowship
CLOSING PRAYER
Great and mighty God, You did it again! I do not take it for granted that You brought us together to honor You. We could have gathered for all manner of things but by Your providence and wisdom, You saw it fit to bring us to this place to worship and give of ourselves in prayers for other people. Thank You for this privilege. Thank You for showing us such grace.
Father, as we disperse to face the other things that require our attention, I pray that we will be mindful of today's message and remain focused on You and what You desire from us. Help us to remain prayerful today and not mindless. Help us to not…
LAST 10 MINUTES
I know P&P can be tough sometimes. The messages are often uncomfortable to swallow. Today's message, however, should be an encouragement to us all.
It is not by our strength that any of us will make it to heaven. It is by our submission. And the more we submit to God's will, the more we realize the pursuit of perfection only serves to push us into legalism instead of a genuine relationship with the Godhead - God, His Son, and Spirit. That is the point I pray we all walk away with.
Many of us think we will lose out on something by submitting. The very word may even be repugnant. However, I am living proof that…
From JIR - Lord, I pray for the terminally ill and sick. Lord I pray that You place Your healing hands upon them from the crown of their heads to the sole of their feet and remove whatever illnesses or sicknesses that are ailing their bodies. Lord I pray that You place them in the care of compassionate doctors and surgeons. I pray that You bless these doctors and surgeons with wisdom and knowledge, a supportive team, sturdy hands and sharp eyes to provide their patients with the treatments and surgery needed to help them. I pray that You bless those affected by severe conditions to be able put their illnesses behind them, live full lives and give You all…
Lord, praise be unto You, Jehovah Sabaoth. The God of the Heavenly Hosts.
Father, I come against witchcraft in the lives of the members of this fellowship and their families I speak against every attempt to control, destroy and ensnare with such arts, IJMN, Amen. I know satan's modus operandi is to steal, kill and destroy the glorious destinies of Your people by enticing them with slickly-packaged, deceptive messaging that blurs the lines between what is godly and what You have specifically forbidden Your people to get entangled with.
Nevertheless, I thank You, Father, for You are He who has all dominion (Daniel 4:34-35). You are the Sovereign Lord. And no matter what satan's desires are, no matter how much…