Hey all!
It’s the last Sunday of the month, and today perfection is on my heart.
The reason for this is two-fold:
- I am struggling with my weight. I’ve gained 10 pounds, and I don’t like the way I look. I eat right. I’m exceedingly healthy. I have no health problems. I still look good, but not in my own eyes. I’m working with a nutritionist, and I still am not happy. I see no change, and I’m getting very frustrated with it all.
- Proverbs 31. I just finished reading Proverbs 31 (which is Lesson 25, Day 5 for those of you wondering). This is the passage of The Wife of Noble Character in the Bible. I feel like I am most of those things, but I definitely fall short on some of them most days. I could definitely fear the Lord more, be more generous, and be more instructive with my tongue.
The definition of perfect is without defect. However, when I Googled, this is what I got: “having all the required or desirable elements, qualities, or characteristics; as good as it is possible to be.”
“As good as it is possible to be.” I think this is what we need to keep in mind when we strive for perfection.
Is it wrong to strive for perfection? Let’s put this another way: Is it wrong to strive to be like Jesus?
In our hearts, we all want to be perfect. Why? Why is this human desire there? Because Jesus was perfect and in the hearts of all people (whether they are a believer or not) is this desire to be perfect, to be like Jesus.
Should you strive to be perfect? Should you strive to be like Jesus? Duh, of course you should strive to be like Jesus. And Jesus was perfect.
Hence, I will keep up the battle. Because I don’t like to fail. And I don’t like to be defeated.
Food for me is a daily battle, and there are days when I feel like giving up. Let’s be honest: every day I feel like giving up.
Being like Jesus is a daily battle. Because most of the time I’m selfish and dislike doing things for other people, especially people I don’t know. It’s a daily battle to see with the eyes of God and give with the hands of Jesus.
Will I ever look perfect? No.
Will I ever be perfect like Jesus? No.
But I can be as good as it is possible to be. And that’s my new goal. What about you?
Have you checked your blood work, thyroid function maybe? Changes in sleep pattern?
Praying for the perseverance Paul had to live in you to finish the race. Your are doing a great job in my opinion!!
To be as good as it is possible to be is true of most people. I know your struggle with weight. I also know that as we age our metabolism slows down. We can eat the right mixture of foods and loose some weight but keeping it off becomes the next struggle. It is very difficult to maintain. I have been down that road so many times. I am overweight, don’t like it, but at 70 years old, I have decided this is me. I have my mother’s genes and this was her shape as it is a couple of my sisters. I try to watch what I eat, I exercise 2-3 times a week, line dance , and play golf. I wish you well and that you are successful.
I love your posts and follow you on BSF. You are doing such a service with your additional comments at the end of each lesson. I have learned so much. Thank you for what you do.
Just found your site. I have been in BSF for years. Looking forward to learning with you. I feel you on the weight thing. Dealing with my own negative self talk.
Hey there faithful sister…..I’m reaching out because of your struggle with your weight. But first….. I want to thank you for all you share that makes my BSF work come alive. Yours is one on my most cherished resources as I move through my studies. This is my first year with BSF and I am feeling so blessed and honored that God put this on my path. I attend another Bible study through my church and have been doing that for the past four years or so but we are not as diligent and going through the Bible as this course is taking me. We are studying the names of God and although I am enjoying that, this deep dive is exactly where God wants me to be. So with that being said… Thank you again and I so appreciate your contribution. And about the struggle, I work with women all the time who are looking to honor their temple and feel comfortable in their God-given body. I am a certified holistic health coach, and I work with a nutritional product that God blessed me with eight years ago. And I’d be happy to have a conversation and see is there’s anyway I could serve you.
Be blessed, Patti Ann Ridgway “Withhold not good from them to whom it is due when it is in the power of thine hands to do so.” Proverbs 3:27 Project Feed It Forward
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I always thought the perfectionist in me was a full trait, but when you equate it to being more like Jesus I am seeing it as a better quality. Thank you!