Personal Worth and Value – Finding Total Recovery in the Words of Christ, "It is Finished!"

“A lazy person will end up poor.
But a hard worker will become rich.”

(Proverbs 10:4)

You are a good worker and find great satisfaction in productivity. The riches you gain from your work are far more valuable than mere money.

Your work experience has taught you discipline, patience, and problem-solving techniques which are useful in every area of your life.

Your work ethic is exceptional. From this birthday verse, you can be assured that wealth is promised, both in monetary gain and personal growth. These will carry you through life with a sense of security and confidence.

You possess a treasure trove of knowledge that comes from hard work. Not only does it enhance your performance, but it also makes you an expert in your field.

The wealth of work is not always reflected in paychecks or bank balances, but God has a way of multiplying whatever you have in order to make good on His promise.

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Tetelestai Recovery

Redefining Perfection: Growing Into Your Full Potential

September 22, 2026September 19, 2026 lastwordrecovery

A tiny green tomato on the vine is a perfect tomato, although it does not have the color, flavor, or texture of a fully ripened tomato. The tiny green fruit is perfect, but it is not yet useful for its intended purpose. If it remains on the vine, the perfect green tomato will grow into its full potential. And throughout each stage of its growth, it will continue to be perfect.

Thus, we conclude that perfection is about potential. Perfection has little to do with current behavior or ability, but a lot to do with our mindset. Perfection is a state of being which maintains continuous momentum toward progress.

Jesus’ Call to Perfection: Rethinking What ‘Perfect’ Really Means

September 21, 2026September 19, 2026 lastwordrecovery

If Jesus calls us to be perfect, but we say, “Oh no. I’m not perfect. Let’s be realistic, I will never be perfect,” then we are dismissing His invitation to venture into a new mindset and a leveled-up form of existence.

Before we can take that leap of faith though, we need to address this issue of perfection and what it really means. Can we trust God to bring us to a point of perfection? Can we believe that Jesus wasn’t just using performance hyperbole when He said we could be perfect like the Father?

Declaring Christ’s Finished Work: Living Philippians 1:6 Today

September 20, 2026September 19, 2026 lastwordrecovery

“Being confident of this very thing, that he, who hath begun a good work in you, will perfect it unto the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)

It feels awkward to say we are perfect. We aren’t quite sure how to align the character qualities of honesty and humility with such a bold statement. It seems like a brag and a lie.

But, if we remove the dimension of time, we can most assuredly say that somewhere in time, it has happened. Therefore, we step outside of time and claim it now. We call out what God has promised and continue declaring it until the truth becomes our reality.

Learning to Live with Imperfection While Longing for More

September 19, 2026September 18, 2026 lastwordrecovery

We are perfectionistic by nature and refuse to give ourselves permission to fail. Therefore, we say, “I’m not perfect,” to soften the impact when crashing into our own imperfections.

We also use the phrase, “I’m not perfect,” to preface a judgmental statement like, “I know I’m not perfect, but I would never do what he did.”

We long for perfection. This is a normal desire, since we believe that it will be our reality someday. But what do we do in the time between now and then?

How can we be perfect in such an imperfect world?

Jesus’ Call to Perfection: Can We Really Be Perfect?

September 18, 2026September 18, 2026 lastwordrecovery

“Therefore, be perfect, even as your Father who is in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:48

Why Jesus would make such an outrageous statement? How could we ever hope to be perfect?

Yet, based on this verse, if we claim that we are not perfect, we are speaking in direct opposition to these words of Jesus. We certainly don’t want to do that!

Since we believe that the words of Jesus are our truth, His invitation to be perfect sparks our curiosity and draws us into its multi-dimensional mystery. If He said it, it must be something reasonable and attainable. At least it is, somewhere in time.

When God said, “Let there be light,” He was speaking into the darkness. Therefore, when Jesus invites us to be perfect, He is speaking into our imperfections, calling for a manifestation of our original design.

Finding God in Silence: Embracing Spiritual Tests

September 8, 2026September 2, 2026 lastwordrecovery

Weary adventurer slumped at tavern table holding an empty tankard

Previously, these difficult times had been dark and made us doubt our relationship with God. We were frustrated to find Him so distant when we needed Him the most.

However, when we begin to view these events as a process which increases our patience and equips us for the next level, we start to see their value. We no longer need to feel frustrated when God goes silent. A good teacher is always silent during a test.

Thanks to the book of James (and our brother by the same name who shared this passage with us), we are learning to identify our spiritually ‘blah’ times as simple tests. These tests are challenging and exhausting, but they mark the completion of one level which advances us to the next.

From Mountains to Deserts: Navigating Life’s Journey

September 5, 2026September 1, 2026 lastwordrecovery

Hiker trekking above winding roads in a lush mountain valley

We love the mountaintops and the flowery meadows, but we must face the fact that dry deserts and muddy bogs are also part of the expedition. We must make peace with both if we want to get where we are going.

When the roads are easy, we feel joy in looking back to see how far we’ve come. When the roads are difficult, we seem to take one step forward, two steps back. Sometimes we slip and fall. Sometimes we just stand still and shrug. Even when we do finally get on firm footing again and start to move forward, we scold ourselves for not being stronger, more resilient, or more determined.

We aren’t sure what to call these moments of uncertainty. The term ‘backsliding’ is way too harsh. The last thing we need is to feel more isolated and cut off from God than we already do.

Freedom from the Curse: A Life of Blessings

August 30, 2026August 31, 2026 lastwordrecovery

Clear stream flowing over rocks through a lush green forest

We live under Grace, not Law. Jesus broke the power of the curse, so we can all live in the blessing if we choose to believe it. We need not fear the curse or the consequences of our own mistakes. Those issues have been resolved.

We are in a continual state of cleansing, like standing beneath a waterfall. Even a sin committed one second ago, is already washed away in the living water. We live exclusively in the blessings and enjoy firm standing on the promises. Curses do not cling to us. Blessings chase us down.