Perfection of the Heart

Remember that you live in a fallen world: an abnormal world tainted by sin. Much frustration and failure result from your seeking perfection in this life. There is nothing perfect in this world except Me. That is why closeness to Me satisfied deep yearnings and fills you with joy.

I have planted longing for perfection in every human heart. This is a good desire, which I alone can fulfill. But most people seek this fulfillment in other people and earthly pleasures or achievements. Thus they create idols, before which they bow down. I will have no other gods before Me! Make Me the deepest desire of your heart. Let Me fulfill your yearning for perfection.

“You shall have no other gods before me.” —Exodus 20:3

Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. —Psalm 37:4

This is the exert from today's Jesus Calling by Sarah Young (I highly recommend getting this devotional, it's a great quick 2-minute start to your day and always seems to applicable to what I'm going through that day). Today really spoke to me as I struggle with perfection on a daily basis. I love how it was put, that God planted a longing in each of hearts for perfection. He created a desire in our hearts to crave perfection but only one thing can satisfy that, an that is Him. How beautiful is that? Normally 'perfection' is painted in such a negative light but really it's something we should strive for every day because ultimately our goal is to be more like Him. 

Perfection doesn't have to be such a negative thing. I think of the bracelets we all got in Sunday school "WWJD"- What Would Jesus Do. These were meant to remind us as kids to think of how Jesus would react to a situation before we acted. That is the simplicity of pursuing perfection; striving to act and think more like Christ. Christ is love, patience, kindness, forgiveness, mercy and grace. When we set our eyes on Christ and try our hardest to embody Him, that is what true Christianity looks like. It's not about wearing a bracelet or a cross around your neck, it's not about posting scripture on social media, and it's not about owning every single type of Bible out there- that's what looking like a Christian looks like. Striving and looking like Christ is a step shy of perfection (because obviously, we all fail daily and hourly to be 'perfect'). It's about laying down yourself and picking up the cross daily. 

Lay down your pride and pick up humility. Lay down your greed and pick up a giving heart. Lay down your ego and pick up your compassion. Lay down your fear of the future and pick up faith and hope. Lay down your anger and pick up love. Lay it down and lean on God to show you what to do, how to react, what to say, where to go. He is Lord, perfect and beautiful in every way, and He will mold you into His perfect image day by day if you'll only lay down yourself and open yourself up to Him.