Perfection Trap

Just a few weeks ago I admitted my perfectionistic tendencies. Since then I have been slowly, imperfectly (as in not every day, not consistently, not to my exacting expectations of what good Christian "quiet time" or "devotional" time should look like - gasp) working my way through Biblical references to the word "perfect". There have been days where I am humbled and challenged by the process, and times when this study has been quite liberating.

Amazingly I've been excited and surprised to see how closely this study falls hand-in-hand with all I'm learning as I work on writing my book on Paul about living with chronic pain/illness. Today, as I was tweaking some things in my book introduction I was stunned to realize that a key verse I had chosen months ago for the opening section of the book is one that falls right into my study on perfectionism:

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”
- Philippians 3:12 (NIV)

I love it when God so beautifully orchestrates and intertwines so many different aspects of my life, all to teach me more about Himself and His loving, personal grace toward me. In celebration and recognition of God's ongoing work in my heart, I'm adding the word perfect to my growing list of life theme words today.