Can you surrender this today,

In a moment of transparency, let me confess something to you. One of my deep character flaws is perfectionism. I expect myself to be perfect in everything, which means I am often deeply disappointed in myself.

I have done years and years of therapy, trying to bring my perfectionism under control, and along the way, I have learned some incredible lessons. I have learned that perfectionism will exhaust you, while holiness can refine you.

My counselor has told me that the best way to exhaust yourself is to continue pursuing things that are unreachable by any human standard. He has regularly challenged me that my daily choice is to grow, not simply to perform.

What does this look like for me? It doesn’t mean I don’t pursue excellence with everything I have. No—it just means that I choose to surrender my desire for excellence to the most excellent King that I follow.

“But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do.” (1 Peter 1:15, NIV)

Here’s something else that I’m learning: God isn’t asking for flawlessness; He’s simply asking for faithfulness. The truth is, God is the only one who’s perfect—so you don’t need to be, and neither do I.

God simply wants me to be a faithful servant and steward today in all I do so that it brings glory to Him and not to me.

Today, I want to encourage you again to pursue holiness, not perfection. Do all that you can, with all that you have, for everyone that God puts in front of you—and then trust Him to do His good work both in you and through you.

Never forget, my friend—you are a miracle.