Latest / HAVE FAITH LET IT BEGIN® / Stop Trying to Be the Perfect Christian Ep 7 of 10 part series: Following Jesus in Real Life

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Stop Trying to Be the Perfect Christian Ep 7 of 10 part series: Following Jesus in Real Life · HAVE FAITH LET IT BEGIN®

• 0:07
  Following Jesus isn't about having all the answers. It's about trusting God one step at a time.
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  Welcome to Have Faith, Let It Begin, Following Jesus in Real Life.
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  It's a special series here from us at our podcast. And my name is Angel.
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  Together, we'll have honest conversations about faith, doubt,
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  hope, grace, and what it truly means to follow Christ, not just on Sundays, but every single day.
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  Let's walk this journey together. because have faith, let it begin, starts right now.
• 0:47
  Welcome to Half-Faith, Let It Begin. This is Ariel Santana.
• 0:51
  Can you believe I'm seven years old already? I'm old enough now to introduce my dad.
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  Ladies and gentlemen, your host, my dad, Angel Santana.
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  Two thousand came and the spark was lit. A testimony raw, it wouldn't quit.
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  His mother's voice, a guiding thread.
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  The angels are with you, she gently said.
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  He walks the road. Good morning, everyone, and welcome to Have Faith,
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  Let It Begin. My name is Angel Santana.
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  Remind you, like, subscribe, and tell us what you think about our episodes.
• 1:46
  Make a comment. We really would love to hear from you.
• 1:48
  Don't forget, Have Faith, Let It Begin has gear. Here's the QR code.
• 1:52
  Let me ask you a question. Have you ever felt like you weren't a good enough
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  Christian? Maybe you've missed a few days of reading your Bible.
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  Maybe you missed a few days of some services at church. Maybe your prayers haven't
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  been what they used to to be. Maybe you're lost.
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  Maybe you lost your temper. Let's go with that one. I'm laughing because trust
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  me, there's a sermon working right now.
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  Maybe you've made mistakes that still weigh heavily on your heart.
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  And somewhere along the way, you've started believing that God must be disappointed in you.
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  If you've ever felt that pressure, well, then today's episode is for you.
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  Here's a heart check for you. Sometimes we place expectations on ourselves that God never placed on us.
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  We think we have all the answers. We think we have all of the ideas in our minds.
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  We think we always have to be strong.
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  We think we can never, ever struggle.
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  We think we must never fail. But that's not the picture of discipleship we find in scripture.
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  You see, Jesus didn't call perfect people. He called ordinary people who were willing to follow him.
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  Let's talk about that. There's a difference between pursuing holiness and pursuing perfection.
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  God calls us to grow, to mature, to become more Christ-like.
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  But he never promises we'll reach perfection on this side of heaven. Growth is a journey.
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  Some days we'll take big steps. Other days, we'll stumble.
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  The beautiful truth of the gospel is that when we fall, God's grace meets us,
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  and he meets us there and invites us to get back up.
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  Grace isn't permission to stay where we are. It's the strength to keep moving forward.
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  So let's talk about biblical perspective. When you read the Bible,
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  and believe me, I'm just starting like you guys, everyone.
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  When you read the Bible, you quickly notice something encouraging. At least I am.
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  I know I am. While I'm in pastor school.
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  I'm getting that feeling, that encouraging feeling. And God consistently used,
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  imperfect people to prove that.
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  Peter denied Jesus. David committed serious sins and sought God's forgiveness.
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  Martha worried. Thomas doubted.
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  Yet God continued to work through them. their stories.
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  Their stories aren't recorded because they were flawless. They were recorded
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  because they experienced the transforming power of God's grace.
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  Our hope has never been in human perfection. Our hope has always been in God's faithfulness.
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  So here's a personal testimony for you. There have been many times that I believed
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  I had to get everything right before God could use me.
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  I wanted to have every answer, every plan, every detail.
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  But over time, God taught me something I will never forget. And he's still teaching
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  me. He isn't looking for perfection.
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  He's looking for availability.
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  That's why I don't record in a great studio. That's why you hear my children
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  playing in the background. That's why if I make mistakes, I leave it in.
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  He's not looking for perfection. He's looking for availability.
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  He can shape a willing heart. He can guide a humble spirit. He can strengthen
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  someone who admits they need him.
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  And that realization brought incredible freedom.
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  Living it out. Maybe you've been carrying guilt from yesterday. Maybe you've been,
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  replaying mistakes over and over. Can I encourage you to do something today?
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  Don't let yesterday's failures keep you from today's opportunities.
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  Receive God's forgiveness.
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  Accept his grace. And learn from your mistakes.
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  And keep following Jesus.
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  Because the life of a Christian, the life of a believer, isn't measured by never falling.
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  It's measured by continually getting back up through God's grace.
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  Here's your faith challenge today. Stop keeping score.
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  Instead of making a list of everything you've done wrong, make a list of the
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  ways that God has been faithful.
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  Thank him for his patience. Thank him for his mercy. Thank him for never giving up on you.
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  Then extend that same grace to someone else this week.
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  God's speaking to me right now.
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  So here's my closing thought for you. You don't have to earn God's love.
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  You don't have to perform his acceptance.
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  Because of Christ, you're invited into his relationship built on grace.
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  So keep growing.
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  Keep learning. Keep trusting. And remember, God is shaping you one day at a time.
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  Let's pray. Heavenly Father, thank you for your amazing grace Thank you that your love,
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  grows with us every single day That you love us even when we fall short Help
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  us stop striving for perfection And start resting in your love,
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  Give us the courage to keep growing The humility to admit our mistakes,
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  And the confidence to know that your grace Is greater than our failures,
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  So shape us into the people who reflect your love and extend that same grace
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  to others In jesus name we pray Amen today's takeaway god isn't asking for perfection,
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  He's inviting you into transformation,
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  Thank you for joining me for episode 7 of 10 following jesus in real life Remember,
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  god doesn't love a future,
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  A perfect version of you more than he loves you today.
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  Walk in his grace. Trust in his mercy. Follow him faithfully.
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  And never forget, have faith.
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  Let it begin. Coming up next, episode eight of 10. We're getting down to the
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  nitty gritty. The last three.
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  Friendship that brings you closer to Jesus. Choosing relationships that strengthen your faith.
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  We'll explore how the people we spend the most time with can shape our attitudes,
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  our priorities, and even walk with Christ.
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  Together, we'll discover what it means to build friendship that encourage,
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  challenge, and point us toward Jesus. See you tomorrow. Take care.