Trying to do my best & let God do the rest

When I was a kid, my sisters and I listened to KidsPraise (cheesy kids christian music, on a tape, in a walkman, with two sets of headphones between the three of us!). Recently one of the songs keeps coming back to me, the words were something like 'with Jesus and determination, I will do my best, he'll do the rest'.

(I think I probably know more of the bible through song words, than from memorising passages - somehow it sticks in my memory much easier that way. I'm also not very good at remembering where in the bible a passage comes from, so I love having my Bible app on my phone or using biblegateway.com).

This song sums up, some of what I've been learning - instead of trying to do everything, and being stressed, I'm learning to do what God asks me to do and to trust him with the rest.

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. (Psalm 37:5 ESV)

In her book 'you're already amazing', Holley Gerth say ' God isn't interested in how much we can do. If he can create the world in seven days with a few words, then getting it done isn't an issue for him! Instead God is interested in us doing only what he's asked us to do, when he wants us to do it....'

After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? (Galations 3:3) 

Holley goes on to say 'a lot of the expectations in my life aren't from my master. I make them up or take them on from someone else. In that case I'm not required to meet them'. She says that 'expectations are laws we place on ourselves and each other'

You are not under the law, but under grace (Romans 6:14)

I'm starting to identify the things that I do because of other peoples expectations (or what I perceive to be their expectations!) and the things that I do for approval for others. For example the past few times we've had visitors, we've ordered takeaway. In the past I would have planned out the whole meal and been stressed about cooking it right, just so that I looked good. Instead we were able to enjoy spending time (the reason they came!) with our visitors without the anxiety or half the washing up. I also accepted the offer of someone bringing dessert!