How I Got Out of the Performance Game
By Stovall's Blog
Since I preached on God’s grace in the last 2 messages of the 6 Hot Weekends series, I have had a few questions from people about how I got out of a performance-based cycle in my personal relationship with God. So, I thought I’d share a few thoughts about that.
What actually happened was that I realized that I had become more focused on how well I “performed” spiritually and less focused on Jesus.
When performance is your focus the only way for you to move forward spiritually — or at least to feel like you are — is to keep setting the bar higher. I had made so many rules (more prayer, more Bible-reading, more fasting) that when I couldn’t fulfill my self-imposed requirements, I couldn’t enjoy my relationship with God. I had very little joy, and I knew that wasn’t the way that I could really be effective in serving God and reaching people.
When I took my focus off of myself and my performance and put it on Jesus, and HIS GOODNESS I realized how off track I had been. The joy of God was immediately more evident in my life, and my relationship with God became a “want to” instead of a “have to.”
I became more effective at every level.
Now actually, my prayer, Bible-reading and other Christian disciplines are more consistent in my life.
And that’s how I got out of the performance game.
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7 Responses to “How I Got Out of the Performance Game”
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i wasn’t there to hear you preached on that but i do have a copy of it i still haven’t get around to listen to it but i will if God will. keep that spiritual binoculars set in life you can’t miss that full perspective keep preaching the word your in my favorite. much,love
I just wanted to let you know that i went to growth track last night and it was AWESOME! i can’t wait to see what’s in store for us! i’m am so excited to see what God is going to reveal to me. Cleebration Church has been such a blessing in my life!
Wanted to say I really enjoyed the message on Sunday. Bought 3 copies of it!!
If you don’t want to post this – that’s fine. I had mentioned my son started a church in Winston-Salem. With little input from me about Celebration, he has been trying to do the same church planting and has similar “model” thoughts as Celebration. I’m wondering if you could share how you got “off the ground” 7 years ago, or perhaps could give me some information I could share with him. Any input appreciated.
Julia
This post makes me think about how I want everyone’s salvation experience to be like mine was. I have to consistently remember that GOD works in a different time frame for everyone.
The care force training we went through went a long way in helping me explore that. My salvation experience removed all the shame and changed everything in less than 1 second, I have to remember that not everyone will have that same experience.
When I accepted JESUS, it was as though GOD stuck his hand down my throat and removed all the shame and pain from the inside, and I was able to see that I had been broken for a purpose. I would be broken like that 10 times over if I knew that I would be used by GOD like I am being used right now.
I have learned so much from you pastor Stovall, and feel so blessed to be a part of the Celebration family.
Thanks
Jason
I would imagine that being in your position, while a blessing, could also be a tremendous amount of pressure. I, too, would be interested to know how you cultivate your relationship with God, etc., for a couple reasons. One – to see if you’re human
and also as a fellow-christian to know how you handle “life”.
As a member of the church, it’s easy to place a pastor (leader) on a pedestal , and place too much focus on them as well. Keeping a good & healthy balance and perspective is necessary.
In my husband’s first marriage, he co-pastored a church, had a little girl and taught at a christian school. His life was all about God. He came home one day to his house empty, wife gone, and didn’t see his child for 3 years. Turns out members of the church helped move her out. I have always been amazed at how he never turned away from God and kept his faith. God took that bad part of his life and made his life better. All is well now. It makes you realize, though, how fast life can change and how every day and every situation needs to be handed to God – because he controls it anyways.
I have also found that focusing on my relationship with God and others (outward/inclusive focus) is far more effective than focusing on my performance (inward/exclusive focus), and it is so much more fun and rewarding!.
Can you comment on what you do to cultivate your relationship with God, with Christians, and with non-believers?
God bless,
Mark
Love this post. Very insightful and a great perspective to ponder on.