Permission to Fail

At what point do some stop granting themselves permission to fail God? It’s a hard question, but it is not attached to criticism and self-righteousness, nor legalism for that matter. Many are not living their full potential in Jesus; even though the Lord gave them the grace to rise up into the fullness of their calling. Anytime we use an excuse for some sort of failure, we grant ourselves permission to fail. Of course, excuses are great for willful disobedience, laziness and the like. However, the point of this question relates more to how people approach life, which includes self-sabotage.
   The opening question is attached to a more simple one: what do you really believe to be true? Boiling it down further: do you believe the Word of God? How many say they believe the Bible, but their words and actions don’t collaborate with their statement? So, what do you really believe?
   “God understands me, He knows what I’m made of; besides, no one is perfect!” You are right about one thing: God does know you and what you’re made of; however, you don’t. Do you believe you are who He says you are, and can do what He says you’re capable of doing? In one sense, it comes down to whose report are you going to believe. Some constantly self-sabotage, because they continue to believe false narratives spoken into their lives. What God says keeps bumping up against what they believe at their core. Others “can’t” get past their history. They’re so hung up on it, they’re hamstrung and cannot move forward. Even though God says different: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). Unfortunately, they’re out of alignment with their new design. How do you come back into alignment? Repent and believe differently. More specifically, believe God.
   There is another element attached to belief that holds people back: control. They want to be in control of every aspect of life, including the areas that belong to God. They trust themselves more than God, Himself. How does that affect belief? People believe what they want to believe. As long as they try to maintain control, they will choose to believe those things that enable them to “stay in control.” This can lead someone into the quest for perfection, which is a quality none of us can obtain apart from Jesus Christ.  Unfortunately, that may lead to falling from grace, as it tends toward a works mentality. Galatians 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. Just like the Galatians, they may have started well, they began in the Spirit (see Galatians 3:1-5), but they shifted back into dead works. When you’re doing things your way, you’re not doing them God’s way; unless, God’s ways are your ways. The quest for perfection is a journey to a hard fall. It can be especially hard if the quest is connected to pride. In the end, they too will give themselves permission to fail. “The Lord knows I just couldn’t do it.”
   Remember, God has given us everything we need to succeed in life, on His terms (see 2 Peter 1:4-5). His grace is sufficient and He is able to keep you from falling, and that means you no longer have to fail, especially since Jesus already made us victorious. 1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (see also Romans 8:31-39).
   Jude 1:24-25 Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

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