Monday Memes: Let’s Do a Bob Ross

I absolutely love this meme! Many of my family members love watching Bob Ross, including my 7 year old daughter!! But this meme in particular, really displays God’s love and grace to us. What better time to look at this than leading up to Easter!

So often we make mistakes. We’re human. Even more often, we let those mistakes define us. I am here to tell you that you need to stop it right now! Our sins and failures do not define who we are.

We can’t change the past. Usually, we can’t change the consequences that come from our mistakes. However, God can change those mistakes into birds.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28

You are the canvas in our meme, and God is Bob Ross. He created you and He made you to be a beautiful canvas. However, our mistakes/sin can mar that canvas. But for those who believe in God, He takes the mars and turns them into birds. Those birds don’t erase the problem, but they make the problem benefit the painting. The birds are an added beauty.

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,
Philippians 3:13

For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:18

You see, Jesus is all about restoration and transformation. He wants the relationship to grow. If you can’t let it go, you are keeping the Holy Spirit from growing you spiritually. You are letting your mistake define you instead of letting the Holy Spirit redefine you.

So if you are having guilt over past mistakes, if you still carry around the shame, if you are letting it define who you are, stop right now. Ask Jesus for forgiveness and ask Him to turn those mistakes into birds.

1. Are you letting your past mistakes define you?
2. Take some time to talk with God and release those mistakes to Him.
3. Ask the Holy Spirit to renew you.
4. Write 2 Corinthians 3:18 on something that you will see frequently, or that you can access easily. Read it anytime you feel yourself starting to define yourself by your mistakes.
5. Focus this week on leaving behind the old mistakes and being a new person. This new person is someone who has learned from the mistake and can move forward, knowing they are forgiven.