There are three lessons that can help us to not beet ourselves up when we fall short of being perfect.
Lesson Number 1:
- To reach God your prayer doesn't have to be perfect.
The fact is some people just don't know how to pray.
Luke 18:9-14, Jesus tells us a story about a tax collector and a Pharisee. The Pharisee began to pray and basically told the Lord he was perfect. The tax collector prayed and was so open that he told the Lord he was a sinner, and asked the Lord to be merciful.
Jesus says in verse 14: "I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
We must be open with God about our sin. After all, he knows anyways.
Lesson Number 2:
- To reach people your life doesn't have to be perfect.
We must be ready to get into the game. You can't wait for your life to be perfect. If you wait, your going to be on the bench all your life.
The Lord is looking for people who want to get into the game. Even though you are going to mess up, fall, stumble, or say the wrong things, we must get in the game.
Romans 7:14-20 talks about a man struggling with sin. Sometimes just like the man we do things that we don't want to do. We were born into sin. We have a sinful nature. Versus 18-20 says, "And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can't. 19) I want to do what is good, but I don't. I don't want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. 20) But if I do what I don't want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong, it is sin living in me that does it.
Bottom line, we are going to mess up. Just step out and do something.
Lesson Number 3:
- Your vision doesn't have to be practical.
Many of us read inspirational books or books that give us vision, or self help books. But they are missing one thing. The Spirit of God.
When we look at practicality, we can't do anything. But with the spirit of God, practicality is not a factor.
Practically, Moses couldn't have convinced Pharaoh to let his people go!
Practically, David shouldn't have been able to kill Goliath.
Practically, the disciples couldn't have preached the gospel in an effective way that it made it all around the world.
We need the power of the Holy Ghost!
1 Corinthians 2:9,10 says, "That is what the scriptures mean when they say, "no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him." 10) But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God's deep secrets."
Dream God dreams and put them into action. Don't wait to be perfect in your prayer. Don't wait for your life to be perfect, and your vision doesn't have to be practical.
