In the book The Artist's Way,Julia Cameron makes a statement that rocked my spiritual boat—“If we learn to think of receiving God's good as being an act of worship—cooperating with God's plan to manifest goodness in our lives—we begin to let go of having to sabotage ourselves.” This statement started a process of opening my eyes to God's bounty flowing into my life.

 

Only God knows how many times I've sabotaged myself by thinking, I don't deserve this; This probably won't last; and other such negative thoughts. I'm convinced this kind of thinking comes from a lack of understanding God's love for me. The result of this thinking has made me a performer for most of my Christian life. Performing in lationships;performing for employers;most of all, performing for God. Believing I had to earn everything. It's been a hard way to live.

 

I remember sitting in a church service one evening. The pastor said, “Jesus said His yoke is easy.” I thought, not for me. Thank God I've begun to accept this truth. Jesus said the truth will set us free. He, of course, is The Truth. What Jesus said gives me freedom when I apply it.

 

Another pastor said, “In the Lord's Prayer we're instructed to ask for our daily bread before asking for forgiveness of our sins.” I looked up the Lord's Prayer and the preacher was right. God doesn't meet our needs dependent on our performance.

 

Scripture also says the rain falls on the just and the unjust. The rain doesn't fall only on the Christian farmer's crops. It's a gift from God and produces the food we need.