Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Today we’re inspired to examine ‘Productivity Anxiety’ for believers.

‘Productivity Anxiety’ is a nagging fear of ‘not being enough’ when it comes to being productive. This feeling of insufficiency may be triggered by several factors such as being a perfectionist, fear of failure, peer pressure, or a desire for validation.

This definition led me to Galatians 2:19‭-‬21 (NLT), where we see the Apostle Paul break free from the obsession of trying to be enough. He testified…
For when I tried to keep the law, it condemned me. So I died to the law—I stopped trying to meet all its requirements—so that I might live for God. My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.

Consider…
As believers, it’s understandable that we want to be worthy of God’s favor in our lives. Like the rich young ruler who asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life, we take pride in following the rules of religion. However, when pressed by Jehovah Jireh to trust Him for everything we need, we discover our faith isn’t really in God, but it’s in our religious efforts for him… and because we’re so focused on being right, we become anxious when we do wrong. We begin to entertain self-doubt about ‘not being enough’. Guess what, that self-doubt began with Adam’s original sin. Genesis 3:7-8 (NLT) says…
At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees.

The shame of our sin makes us feel condemned. Yet, look at God’s response, which He still asks today, “Who told you that you were naked?” – Genesis 3:11a NLT

Wow, it just dawned on me that Adam and Eve told themselves that they were naked, and hid because they felt unworthy of being in the presence of God. 😲

Isn’t that the same thing we still do today when we mess up?

That’s the cycle that Paul decided to break in today’s scripture. He said, “So I died to the law—I stopped trying to meet all its requirements—so that I might live for God”.

He traded the rules of religion, for a right relationship. Or you could say that he let go of the law, to take hold of the Lawgiver.

It’s important we always remember that God doesn’t want our religion, He wants a relationship. In fact He wanted a relationship so much that Romans 3:22‭-‬24 (NLT) declares…
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. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.

Notice we’re made right by God’s grace. That truth is emphasized in Ephesians 2:8‭-‬9 (NLT), which says…
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

‘Productivity Anxiety’, makes us run for a reward, whereas God is telling us embrace His grace. That’s the message Paul gave to the Messianic Jews in Romans 11:6 (AMP), when he wrote…
But if it is by grace [God’s unmerited favor], it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace [it would not be a gift but a reward for works].

This transformational truth is for all Christians. Here’s why it’s crucial that we understand a reward is payment for work you’ve done, but grace is a free gift from the giver. Most of us know Romans 6:23 (NLT) by heart. It says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” But, have you ever paid attention to the three preceding versus that add context. Let’s see what they say…
When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. – Romans 6:20‭-‬22 NLT

As I read those verses, I realize for the first time that Salvation isn’t about us not sinning, although it should compell us to stop, rather, it’s about choosing a new Master. Paul emphasizes that truth in Romans 6:16 (NLT)…
Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.

Still, even after we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we struggle with sin. And because we have a worthy desire to please God, we understandably question our ongoing struggle with Sin like the Apostle Paul in Romans 7:14-25. How often do we say…

• I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. – Romans 7:15 NLT
• 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. 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. – Romans 7:18‭-‬19 NLT
• Or, repeat Romans 6:1‭-‬2 (NLT) in our minds, which says, “Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?”

The desire to live Holy and sinless like Jesus is 💯 worthy and appropriate. Yet it’s important to acknowledge, like Paul, that the sin struggle is real. Look at what he says in the following verses…

• So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. – Romans 7:17 NLT
• 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. – Romans 7:20 NLT
• But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. – Romans 7:23 NLT

Paul also acknowledges the struggle in Galatians 5:17 (NLT), which says…
The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.

Why do we have ‘Productivity Anxiety’? Sin!

But God wants us to understand our true issue is our obsession with sin rather than Him. You see, we wear ourselves out trying to finish what Christ has already done. 1 Peter 2:24 (NLT) explains…
He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.

The Holy Spirit is telling to let go of the past and embrace God’s grace. Ephesians 2:1‭-‬5 (NLT) says…
Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)

So the next time, you start to condemn yourself for the sin you’ve done, remember God’s grace which is given through His Son. Then, declare Romans 8:1 (NLT)…
So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

And if anyone, including yourself, wants to judge you, replay what God says in Romans 8:33‭-‬34 (NLT)…
Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

What we, or others think about our worthiness or holiness is irrelevant. The only thing that matters is what God says about us. Therefore, when ‘Productivity Anxiety’ tells you that you’re not enough, remember God says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9a ESV)

You’re not defined by what you think, say or do, instead you are exactly who God made you. So stop talking to yourself and talk to God, declaring what He says!

Today’s song is…
You Say
https://youtu.be/sIaT8Jl2zpI?si=Ip2w1Xt2Z8RrkJfS

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)