261. Cristina Baker // Letting Go of Performance and Embracing God’s Grace
Do you find yourself striving, weary in the waiting, or wondering if God really sees you? In this episode, Cristina Baker shares her powerful story of transformation, from addiction and hopelessness to discovering true intimacy with Jesus. Cristina unpacks what it means to wait on God’s promises, let go of performance, and live in continual communion with Him. This conversation will remind you that hope is a person, His grace is sufficient, and all God wants is your heart!
About Cristina:
Cristina Baker is an author and speaker, and her passion is to see people come to know the love and friendship that is found in Jesus Christ through fellowship with the Holy Spirit. After a ten year battle with drug addiction, Cristina had a radical encounter with the love and power of God and immediately answered the call on her life to minister the gospel. Cristina and her husband, Ryan, are founders of Power of Hope Ministries, which exists to preach the gospel, share the love of Christ, and teach the power of prayer to bring hope to people of all walks of life. Cristina, Ryan, and their son, Evan, live in Dallas, Texas, with their three dogs.
Bible Verses:
Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Matthew 24:31 “And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.”
2 Corinthians 10:5 “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Psalm 100:4 “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.”
John 15:4 “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”
2 Corinthians 12:9 “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
Topics Discussed:
Introduction
- Cristina lives in Dallas, Texas with her husband.
- Cristina grew up as an atheist. Her father was an agnostic atheist, and her mom was a non-practicing Catholic.
- Cristina was abused as a child. When she was young, she moved to another country with her family.
- Cristina harmed herself, drank alcohol and used drugs and overdosed several times.
- A man at her work and gave Cristina a word from the Lord and asked her if she wanted to accept Christ.
Intimacy with the Lord
- God desires intimacy with us.
- God is preparing the bride, and He is doing it by extending the invitation for us to truly know Him.
- God is our treasure and our reward.
- The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, but He convicts the believers of righteousness.
- The Holy Spirit shows us who we are in Him.
- God chastises those whom He loves.
Waiting
- If you are waiting on a promise from the Lord, begin thanking Him for the promise and the delay.
- God wants us to go on a journey with Him.
- In His grace, God sometimes withholds things that we are not ready for.
- It often takes time for us to mature in our character before we can step into the promise from God.
- It would be to our detriment to receive the gift too early.
A Minute of Hope
- Cristina wrote a book about hope.
- God invites us to see through His heart.
- We become what we behold. When we behold Him, we become Him.
- The heart of this book is that the short prayers would usher in an invitation to look at Him.
- We all have our language with the Lord that is very unique.
- This book is a representation of God’s heart for people.
- We have continual communion with the Lord all day every day.
- All God wants is our heart.
Performance
- God wants to deliver hearts from performance.
- We are nothing without God.
- Any need you have right now is fulfilled in Him.
- God’s grace is enough. It is sufficient.
- God is not looking for anything other than just us loving Him back.
- God’s yoke is easy, and His burden is light.
- If you are feeling heavy, you are carrying a load you were never meant to carry. Jesus wants you to surrender it to Him.
Powerful Quotes:
“Ministry is a privilege.” – Cristina Baker
“Hope is a person and no matter what situation or trial we are facing, we can have hope.” – Caroline
“When we build our theology around the Word of God, we can thrive in everything that we face.” – Caroline
“Truth is truth. It’s not relevant despite what culture today or anytime says.” – Cristina
“God loves the individuality and uniqueness that He created each of us with and He doesn’t want a replica. He wants YOU.” -Cristina
“The Lord knows all of our hearts, but He invites us to know His heart and its His greatest desire.” – Cristina
“The most glorious gift from the Lord is when He withholds us from things that we are not ready for.” – Cristina
“We are all broken people being sanctified by the power of the Holy Spirit being put together by the Lord throughout our whole life.” – Cristina
“The only way the devil can hurt God is by taking His kids.” – Cristina Baker
Resources:
A Minute of Hope book by Cristina Baker
Want to Volunteer? Email acupfullofhopepodcast@gmail.com
Become a VIP member! Monthly VIP Calls
Join the VIP Facebook Group: Facebook Group
Follow A Cup Full of Hope on Facebook and Instagram: Instagram • Facebook
Follow Caroline on Instagram and Facebook:
Instagram • Facebook