Let Perfection Go, Embrace Gratitude Instead
Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends. PROVERBS 17:9 NLT
Being perfect is impossible. No human being can ever be the perfect friend, the perfect partner, the perfect person. But even though we ourselves are not perfect, we often require perfection from others. Even the people who love you the most and are the closest to you will sometimes hurt you. The Bible teaches us that everyone has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
With what relationships are you struggling today? Are there any that need to be repaired or restored? One way to help this process along is to let go of the perfection that many of us require and remember how much God has forgiven us for ourselves. God has not expected perfection from you—just for you to try your best.
With a heart filled with gratitude, consider all the times when God’s love covered your own sins—and thank Him for it! Thank Him for forgiving all the bad stuff in your life, all the wrong choices and bad decisions that were made. Thank God for choosing to love you instead of holding your mistakes against you. Thank Him for forgiving you of all your past sins and transgressions. Give thanks to God because, through His own love, He grants us the power to love others.
As you continue to thank Him for His help and guidance in your relationships, come before Him and ask Him for the strength to choose love over holding a grudge. Ask Him for help in letting go of the hurt from all the past times when someone offended you or did things that wounded you. Ask the Holy Spirit to empower you to love others the way that Jesus Himself loves them. With the ability to choose love over hurt, you will cultivate a love so great it will overcome all the wrongs that people have done to you. That doesn’t mean the wrongs didn’t happen, but you can choose to let it go and love the person instead. Choose to allow your love—God’s love within you—to be greater than the hurt done to you, and then thank the Lord for the power and the strength to follow through.
Keep reading for five morning prayers of gratitude that you can pray throughout this week as you learn to embrace the habit of morning gratitude and spend time with God to begin each day.
Day 1:
God, I praise You because Your love never fails, and it covers all of my transgressions. I adore You because You are good, You are kind, and Your mercies endure forever. I praise You for Your endless grace. I worship You because You are great; there is no one else like You. I am so grateful You do not require perfection from me, that Your love covers a mountain of offenses. Help me as I seek to love others the way You love me. Amen.
Day 2:
Jesus, I thank You for the fact that even though You are God, You did not hold tightly to the claim that You are equal with Your Father. Instead, in humility, You chose the cross and died on my behalf. Lord, I am so thankful that You are present and listening to me today. The Bible says that if I ask, it will be given to me, and so I ask You today for humility in my relationships. I want to be a person who treats others with the utmost respect and kindness, to put others before myself. Even if others hurt me or hinder my goals, I commit to my choice to be the better person, because You have made the way possible for me. Teach me Your humility and free me from my pride, I pray. Thank You for helping me to succeed in this important task. Amen.
Day 3:
Heavenly Father, I thank You that You are real and that You hear me; that You have given me the ability to practice self-control; that You love me and are concerned about my life and my relationships. I praise You for giving me wisdom and for molding my character to make me more like Your Son, Jesus. You have called me to greater things and a higher purpose. I thank You that through Christ, who strengthens me, I can do anything You ask. Amen.
Day 4:
God, I worship You for who You are. I will love You with all my heart, with all my soul, and with all my might. For You who knew no sin became sin so that I might become the righteousness of God. Your power is infinite, yet You oppose the proud and give grace to the humble. Before the foundations of the earth were established, You called me by my name. You alone are worthy to be praised! Amen.
Day 5:
Lord Jesus, I praise You because You always finish what You start. I worship You for the power of Your Word that transforms and renews my mind. I sing praises to Your name for You hold the universe in the palm of Your hand. I worship You in the knowledge that You work out all things for the good of those who love You. Amen.
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