Good morning, sisters! (Or afternoon, depending on your time zone!) What a joy it is to gather as a community, even amid life’s busyness—like wrangling a lively toddler during nap time. These moments remind us that God’s grace meets us right where we are.
This week, our conversation turned to something profound: how we treat ourselves and, by extension, how we love our neighbors. As we journey through Scripture, especially contrasting the Old Testament law with the grace we have in Christ, one question kept surfacing: Are we harsh or gentle with ourselves?
The Weight of the Old Law vs. the Simplicity of Grace
In Numbers (and throughout the Torah), we’re struck by the sheer number of laws—over 600 commandments the Israelites had to follow. Everything seemed to make a person unclean: touching the dead, certain foods, daily life events. God provided ways for forgiveness and cleansing through sacrifices and rituals, but it required constant effort. No one could perfectly keep the law.
Then Jesus came and fulfilled it all. He boiled it down to two great commandments:
- Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.
- Love your neighbor as yourself.
That’s our “law” now—simple, yet deeply transformative.
But here’s where it gets personal: How harsh are we on ourselves when we fall short? “I didn’t read my Bible today.” “I spoke too sternly to my child.” “I didn’t forgive quickly enough.” If we’re judgmental and unforgiving toward our own mistakes, that same attitude spills over to others. We can only give what we have inside. Being gentle with ourselves isn’t excusing sin—it’s extending the same grace God gives us. What if we chose gentleness? What if we treated our flaws the way we’d treat a dear friend’s?
A Thought on Symbols: The Goat and How the Enemy Perverts God’s Good Things
As we read through the Old Testament, interesting connections emerge. Consider the scapegoat from Leviticus 16 (Day of Atonement): sins were symbolically placed on a goat sent into the wilderness, carrying them away. (That’s where we get the term “scapegoat.”) Goats were actually clean animals under Mosaic law (Leviticus 11; Deuteronomy 14)—they chew the cud and have divided hooves, so they were permissible for food and sacrifices.
Yet today, goats often symbolize something dark in popular culture and occult imagery (like Baphomet or associations with Satan). Could this be another example of the enemy perverting what God created good? Think of the rainbow: God’s covenant promise of no more global floods, now twisted in modern contexts. The adversary loves to twist God’s symbols. Goats were used in sacrifice, pointing forward to Jesus—the perfect, clean sacrifice who bore our sins. What the enemy perverts, God redeems.
Paul’s Powerful Prayer in Ephesians 1:15-23
We dove into Ephesians 1:15-23, where Paul prays for the believers in Ephesus (and for us!). Here’s the full passage in The Passion Translation (TPT):
15 Because of this, since I first heard about your strong faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and your tender love toward all his devoted ones,
16 my heart is always full and overflowing with thanks to God for you as I constantly remember you in my prayers.
17 I pray that the Father of glory, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, would impart to you the riches of the Spirit of wisdom and the Spirit of revelation to know him through your deepening intimacy with him.
18 I pray that the light of God will illuminate the eyes of your imagination, flooding you with light, until you experience the full revelation of the hope of his calling—that is, the wealth of God’s glorious inheritances that he finds in us, his holy ones!
19 I pray that you will continually experience the immeasurable greatness of God’s power made available to you through faith. It is the same magnificent power
20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him on his glorious throne at the right hand of God in the heavenly realm.
21 And now he is exalted as first above every ruler, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that can be named—not only in this age, but in the age that is coming!
22 And he alone is the leader and source of everything needed in the church. God has put everything beneath the feet of Jesus and given him his supreme rank as head over all things in the church.
23 And now we, his church, are his body on the earth and that which fills him who is being filled by it!
Paul thanks God for their faith in Jesus and love for one another—living out those two commandments.
His prayer is this:
- That God would give them the Spirit of wisdom and revelation to know Him more intimately (v. 17).
- That the eyes of their hearts (or “imagination” in TPT) would be enlightened to grasp:
- The hope of His calling.
- The riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints (that’s us!).
- The immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe (vv. 18-19).
This power is the same that raised Christ from the dead and seated Him above all rule and authority (vv. 20-23). Paul wants us to experience this—not just know it intellectually, but live it supernaturally. We have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us (Romans 10:9)—a beautifully wrapped gift enabling us to hear God, operate in His power, and grow in intimacy with Him.
God isn’t far off; He’s personal. He meets us where we are. Ask for wisdom, revelation, deeper knowing—and He answers. If you seek, you’ll find; if you knock, the door opens.
Key Takeaways: Living Gently and Powerfully
- Be gentle with yourself—the way you treat your own shortcomings shapes how you love others.
- See people as God sees them—beloved, chosen, with Christ in them (even the difficult ones). Imagine Jesus standing right there—how would that change your words and actions? He is there, through His Spirit.
- Close the gap on negatives: When we notice something negative rising up—like catching ourselves being judgy or harsh toward ourselves or someone else—use it as a trigger, or a flag on the field. Stop in that moment, pause, and intentionally turn it toward what Scripture reveals: God’s grace, forgiveness, and truth about who we (and they) are in Christ. Instead of letting judgment linger, pivot to grace—extend the same mercy God has given you. Shame leads to hiding; grace leads to confidence and restoration.
- Pursue intimacy with God—ask for the Spirit of wisdom and revelation. Believe it’s available. Experience His power daily.
Sisters, this life in Christ is supernatural. There’s a more excellent way—His way. Let’s keep growing together, being tender with one another, and thanking God for this community.
What stood out to you most this week? How has God been gentle with you—or where do you need His help to be gentler with yourself? Share in the comments—I’d love to pray with you.
Until next time, walking in His grace and power. 💕
In Him,
Heidi
Come join us for Friday Bible Study or Saturday Book Club, we’d love to have you!
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