Perfection or Peace?

            Have you had your Joy Juice today? You don’t have to be perfect to drink in the blessing of God’s joy!

            Would you consider yourself a perfectionist?  Certainly, we want to strive to do our best. The Bible even tells us in Colossians 3:23:

“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men;”

But I don’t see anything in that verse about being perfect, do you? We are to give our very best, but we should not feel condemned or discouraged when we fall short. None of us is (or will ever be) perfect.  And that’s okay.  That is why we need Jesus!

            When we grow in our spiritual walk with God, we will learn to trust Him more.  We will realize our own limitations and see God’s sovereignty and power. Peace will replace our perfectionistic nature as we learn to release our short-comings and weaknesses to Him. God does not expect perfection from any of us.  Instead, Micah 6:8 tells us:

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly with your God.”

            Did you hear those keys to a peaceful life?  He wants us to “act justly,” to “love mercy” and to “walk humbly with God”. 

            Release the obsession of perfectionism and accept God’s gifts of peace and joy.