Self-Improvement Through God’s Perfect Plan

If you’re here looking for real self-improvement, you’ve come to the right place. God’s guidelines offer more than just rules; they show us how to live better, more peaceful lives, free from the chaos that often comes from going our own way.

While Western society is founded on Christian principles, contemporary views of Christianity can be quite hostile. It’s no wonder that some people, in their ignorance, see God’s “rules” as stifling. They believe Christianity to be a long string of outdated restrictions and rules with grave consequences.

If you’re a Christian, you may find yourself feeling stifled or restricted by these “rules.” It’s natural to wonder why God has given us guidelines that at first glance, might seem like a long list of “dos and don’ts.” Many churches present God’s laws in this way, focusing their teachings so heavily on the restrictions of Christianity that they neglect the freedoms.

Before you rebel or start feeling weighed down by these limitations, let’s take a moment to look deeper and at the very heart of the Creator.

Self-Improvement and God’s Lovingly Crafted Laws

God does have laws and there are consequences when we break them, just like when we break a law of our state or city. But these biblical laws weren’t given to us by a dictator who wants to be a killjoy, nor were they given as a means to control us or to strip us of our freedom. Instead, they were given to us to protect us from the natural consequences of sin.

The Ten Commandments are perhaps the most well-known set of laws given to us by God. They tell us not to steal, lie, commit adultery, or covet. But these commandments aren’t just about religious obedience, they are about protecting relationships, developing trust, and creating harmony with our fellow humans and society as a whole.

Think about the natural consequences of stealing or lying. When we commit these sins, we damage trust in our relationships and we tarnish our own reputation. When we covet, we sow discontent and resentment. Sin leads to natural consequences that rob us of peace, joy, security, and relationships.

Biblical guidance isn’t just confined to the Ten Commandments. If you’ve been a Christian for a while, you have probably heard the term “unequally yoked” quoted when the topic of God’s laws is discussed. What does that mean? It means that as Christians we are not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14). This might seem as if God is trying to restrict who we marry. Well, it is. But it isn’t because He is trying to be a harsh dictator.

When God instructs us not to marry someone who doesn’t share our faith, He is not trying to restrict us unnecessarily or wagging a judgmental finger in our direction. God is trying to protect us from the challenges and natural consequences that arise when we join our lives with someone whose beliefs and values differ from our own.

There is unity in marrying someone who shares your love for Christ and from that foundation grows mutual support, shared purpose, comraderies, and spiritual growth. Marrying someone who does not follow Christ can lead to heartache. Doing life with someone who doesn’t share your values can lead to tension over financial decisions, raising children, and all parts of life.

These negative consequences might even include addictions and other, worldly vices. The spiritual discord caused by being unequally yoked can result in ongoing tension and unique difficulties that can arise in every area of life.

God’s laws are not just spiritual; His perfect laws also carry practical wisdom. Just as our earthly parents set boundaries to protect their children from harm, God sets boundaries for us to keep us from unnecessary pain and consequences. When we ignore his guidance, the consequences are not just divine punishment but often result in unpleasant or even damaging natural consequences when we make choices outside of His will.

Self-Improvement Through Biblical Wisdom

When the world talks about self-improvement, it often points to changing behaviors, forming new habits, or reading self-help books. This isn’t necessarily intrinsically bad, but it also removes God from the equation. And why would you want to remove the most powerful source for positive change in existence out of your quest for a better you?

God has given us the ultimate guide for improving our lives – His Word. If we follow Christ’s example and biblical principles about how we live our lives, we will avoid many of the unfortunate consequences that result from sin. If we treat others according to the Bible, it’s amazing how our relationships can transform. And if we were to cast our worries on Him as He instructs us to, think of all the unproductive cycles of fear we would avoid.

God’s perfect plan isn’t just about spiritual salvation, it’s about practical, everyday, boots-on-the-ground living. The closer we adhere to His perfect plan, the better our lives and relationships will be, and the greater peace we will feel.

Following the Laws

As we have seen, God’s perfect plan for us is rooted in love and the more closely we follow His ways, the more protected we will be. We will save ourselves from the destructive forces of sin if we live by the user manual given to us by the Creator.

By adhering to His laws, we don’t just avoid sin’s punishment, but we avoid sin’s consequences. This doesn’t mean life will be free of struggle, but it does mean that we will be spared from much of the unnecessary pain and turmoil that comes from natural consequences.

Self-Improvement and Your Life

If you feel like your life is a series of punishments, maybe it’s time to look at how your values and behaviors align with God’s guidelines. If you are ready to make a life-changing commitment to God and His perfect plan, know that He is also a God of grace, forgiveness, and restoration. It’s in the very nature of God to give us selfless guidelines that not only help us live righteously toward others but allow us to live our best lives too. And He is faithful to forgive us when we fail to follow His guidelines, and there to pick us up when we fall.

New Covenant and Grace

No one is perfect and we can’t expect ourselves to seamlessly and wholly follow the laws of God. But that’s where our imperfections reveal the amazingness of God. Christ, God in human flesh, came to this earth to take all of our mistakes, and “oops” and “oh mans!” on His humble, royal shoulders. He takes our sins and casts them away, leaving us blameless and forgiven.

So, while God’s laws are not arbitrary rules meant to limit your freedom or stifle your joy, they do help us forge a path toward a more abundant and fulfilled life. They are a blueprint, given by a loving father, designed to protect us from the natural consequences of sin.

Just like we seek therapy to help us through emotional struggles, following God’s guidance can steer us away from some of life’s pitfalls. In a world where chaos rules and harm often results from straying away from God’s perfect plan, His commandments guide us toward a life of peace, safety and fulfillment and His grace covers us when we fail.

Even though we live in a chaotic world, God’s perfect path can guide us to a life lived more abundantly, toward peace and a life that is fulfilled. All we have to do is follow that path.

If you are struggling with addiction or any other destructive behaviors or thought cycles, seek professional help from a Christian therapist in California. A therapist at California Christian Counseling can help you identify how you may be living outside of God’s perfect plan and help you get back on track to the path of abundance and peace. Call our office today at California Christian Counseling to learn more.