Breaking The Chains Of Addiction
Attitudes That Keep You Prisoner
Performance Oriented
Many Christians struggling with self-effort are still focused on their performance, rather than on their belief. There is a difference between performing to try to do what Jesus has already done, and performing as a result of faith in what we have received by grace. Some of us may have trouble understanding that we could actually receive something from God without doing anything to deserve it. If we have been taught that God’s blessings are dependent on our works, grace will challenge this mindset. Grace is all about believing and receiving, not about working and deserving. The Law of Moses locked the people into continual self-effort; grace frees us from it. We receive this freedom only when we accept it by faith.
- Jesus’ works, not ours, position us to receive blessings. We simply have faith in Him.But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30).
- Only by His doing are we in Christ Jesus; we are not blessed by our own performance.
- Jesus, in us, gives us wisdom, makes us righteous, sanctifies us, and makes us holy.
- When Jesus says we are holy, we are holy right then, not when our spiritual fruit begins to show. We will not experience the fruit until we believe, first.
- We must accept the root of righteousness, first, in order to begin the process of transformation.
- What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works (Romans 4:1-6).
- God considered Abraham righteous because of Abraham’s faith, apart from any self-effort.
- For us, this means that our works are unnecessary; grace is God’s unearned favor.
- In the eyes of God, true righteousness is by faith.
- And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith (Philippians 3:9).
- Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory (Romans 5:1, 2, NLT).
- We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard (Romans 3:22, 23, NLT).
If you identified the negative attitude of Performance Oriented in your DMI today, take some time to complete this devotional. Read each passage beginning with
(1 Corinthians 1:30).
Meditate on this verse (s). Continue with the next passage until all passages are completed. It is imperative that you allow the Holy Spirit to confront us with our sinful attitudes and character flaws, and that we take responsibility for our behavior without making excuses. This requires looking honestly at the intentions of our hearts if we are to allow God to work in these areas. Ask the Lord to reveal the truth behind these attitudes. Our hearts are deceitful and we will try to hide the true reasons behind these behaviors. Be sure to write down any revelations of the Holy Spirit, especially where they come from.
(1 Corinthians 1:30).
Meditate on this verse (s). Continue with the next passage until all passages are completed. It is imperative that you allow the Holy Spirit to confront us with our sinful attitudes and character flaws, and that we take responsibility for our behavior without making excuses. This requires looking honestly at the intentions of our hearts if we are to allow God to work in these areas. Ask the Lord to reveal the truth behind these attitudes. Our hearts are deceitful and we will try to hide the true reasons behind these behaviors. Be sure to write down any revelations of the Holy Spirit, especially where they come from.