Striving for perfection attempts to control
We are called to surrender. Are you living your life with a tight grip around everything? It could be a place to practice trusting in God. Proverbs instructs to “trust in the Lord with all you heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6). Entrusting our lives to God sounds reasonable in theory. But when lived out, it truly requires great faith and surrender.
Remember who you are
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (1 Peter 2:9-10)
In these verses, we are reminded of exactly who we are through Christ. You are a royal priesthood! You do not need to earn perfection, but can confidently commune with Jesus as God’s special possession! Striving for perfection in your appearance, behavior, workplace, marriage, or parenting takes your eyes off your true nature. You are God’s craftsmanship and He is well pleased with you. When this truth reaches the depths of your spirit, you will be deeply satisfied. When you stay enamored on the face of Jesus, your soul will burn and stay on fire. It is what you were made to do.
Our response
In Matthew 19 Jesus actually gives the answer to attaining perfection: “21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
If you struggle with perfection , my prayer for you this week is that your heart will loosen control, and that you will become absolutely in love with the person of Jesus. He will transform you further and deeper than you ever could on your own.
