Are You Caught In The Performance Trap?

Guest post by Linda Young

Are you trying so hard to please God, but feel you keep falling short of what He wants of you? Good news! His opinion of you doesn’t depend on what you do for Him or anyone else.

God’s love is unconditional and extended to everyone, not to just the “good” people. Often we find ourselves doing things because we want God to like us. I overheard someone recently saying,“I am going to the midweek service; after all, that is the least I can do for God since He has been so good to me.” I’m still trying to figure out how that is going to help God.

Reading your Bible, going to church, praying, none of these help God in any way. God doesn’t change. His love for us doesn’t change. When we give our attention to the things of God, we change. We become more aware of His goodness and mercy. Our faith grows as we spend time with God through prayer and His word. Our minds become transformed to godly thoughts.

In Romans 5:8 we are told, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

If God loved us so much in our unworthy condition that He sent His Son Jesus to die for us, how can we think it’s our performance that causes Him to love us? Instead of trying to perform good deeds in order to lead you to God, receive His unconditional love and let your good works come from your love of God.

Linda Young is a passionate author and teacher who delights in seeing lives transformed with the message of God’s goodness and unconditional love through Linda Young Ministries (www.LindaYoungMinistries.com). She is a conference speaker and women’s retreat leader known for her vibrant, yet down-to-earth-teaching style, packed with encouragement and from a place of genuine love for people. Linda is a graduate of Liberty Theological Seminary and is a member of the pastoral staff at Church 212° in Palm Desert, CA. She and her husband, Ray, make their home in Rancho Mirage, CA. They have six grown children and three grandchildren.