To be perfect on this side of eternity is impossible, but our Father gives us grace as we effort to do our best. We were FEARFULLY made, knit together in our mother’s womb and designed by our Creator with His most careful attention in every detail. Our heavenly Father designed us with the innate ability to discern good from evil. Expanding on two words in Psalm 139:14, the word “Fearfully Made”

Means to be particularly designed, highly esteemed, with great quality. Proper acceptance of the One who crafted us so magnificently, we recognize the privilege of being a child of God.  Our Father gave us position “in Him” within the Body of Christ, to exercise our gift of FAITH.  We honor JESUS and remain faithful by His ongoing grace.  Through His death and resurrection we were gifted NEW LIFE. 

We are descendants of Abraham and as the Word of God says “The promise of God is by FAITH, so that it may be according to grace, to guarantee righteousness to all of Abe’s descendants.” Romans 4 – We are declared righteous by our FAITH, so we live in peace with God, through our Lord Jesus. “Our HOPE will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Romans 5:5 Receive truth.

Agree with God our Father. “Wonderfully Made” refers to His excellence; His Way, His awesomeness, in His design. Our overwhelming amazement brings Him glory. Our Fathee made us astonishing and astounding, full of wonder. His creation is phenomenal, humans are highly extraordinary beyond the usual. Each child of God is unique made in His image with a curiosity, an eagerness to learn with inquiring minds. Our Father calls each of us to grow in our faith in Him. Like a wild flower grows from a tiny seed.

When we answer His call, the Holy Spirit feeds us with the growth producing nutrients of His grace and truth. We in fact hunger after truth and grace, for it is only by His grace that we are rescued time and again from the pitfalls of worldviews. Our Father prepared us to enter this broken world with effective skills. We were formed by His hand with accuracy and loving attention. We were designed by God with the capacity for wonderful intimacy. With all that goodness settled in our minds; we now gaze into the World Standard of Perfectionism.

Holy Spirit, show me Your truth about perfection. When a person adopts a personal standard of perfectionism, an exacting attitude develops — that attitude demands ferocious perfection. Anything less than perfection causes the perfectionist to grumble, complain, reject, and condemn. Where is the truth, the grace in such abhorrence to fault? “There is no condemnation in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1 The perfectionist sets a goal for which they must NOT fail. They try, try, try and fall short, miss the mark and give up, quit, and get angry. The Perfectionist tends to keep a personal record of wrongs. All their failures replay and a root of self-pity, self-hate or self-bitterness grows. They easily lose sight of anything worthy of praise. As a follower of Jesus, we are Kingdom kids and as children of God, we recognize that our Father has consistently chosen flawed folks to do His will.

A hot tempered fisherman named Peter, a tax collector named Matthew, and a highly educated man named Paul. As the world looks at a child of God, they should see a grace filled standard of living. Only the grace of God has the power to transform us and transport us into a life that glorifies God. On our own, moral perfection is unobtainable. We can never become wise or righteous in His sight without God’s sanctifying grace. “About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God.” Hebrews 5:11-14 Holy Spirit teach me, I am willing to learn and obey. AMEN

A child of God strives for excellence, knowing that they were designed to walk in grace with the Holy Spirit ever available. The excellence of our design includes our potential to fail, to sin again, to not always do it right, or have the right word. Our Father knows our true nature, and He built us with a capacity to learn from our mistakes. Children of God pursue the goal of excellence and are encouraged by our Father to run the race without looking back. We accept God’s grace and His forgiveness.

Without comparing our race to anyone else, we choose to accomplish things with His help, for His glory. When we fail, we forgive ourselves. We get back up and get back in the race, confident that we are accepted and loved. What Father scolds or disqualifies a child for falling down? Our heavenly Father loves us — all the way into eternity. Our Father requires that we humbly and honestly examine our hearts. To seek first the Kingdom attitude, to place God first, and His ways above all this world has to offer. We are enlightened with fresh revelation as we pursue more of His grace. He takes great pleasure in our best efforts to work, play, or run as though we are doing it for our Father’s glory.

“So we put away all malice, deceit, envy and hypocrisy and all slander. Like newborn infants, we long for the pure spiritual milk. By the purity of God’s streaming wisdom and grace, we grow up into the fullness of our salvation — if indeed we have tasted that the Lord is good. We humbly come to Jesus, like living stones that are constantly being built up as a Spirit filled house, to become a holy priesthood. We offer God our spiritual sacrifices, our repentance for our headstrong ways — so that we are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:1-5 expanded. Envy / Jealousy and Comparison are rooted in bitterness. The ME vs THEM— mentality — is a worldview NOT a Godview. It actually opposes God’s Kingdom values. If we are lured into comparing ourselves to others, we fall into Satan’s trap. Some folks thrive off of competition, but striving for excellence is His better way. Think about what people compete for: Love, honor, victory, joy and attention — and yet those who claim Jesus as Lord have all His attention, love, joy and victory already! “For God so loved the world” This power packed truth includes all of us.  We live in a broken world, but we are not of it, but in it —- to shine for Jesus.

“In Him” we have the victory over death and our words make the devil run! Our Father gave us ( past tense) the privilege and honor to call ourselves children of God. Our Heavenly Father loves all mankind, and mankind is without excuse as our Father reveals Himself trustworthy with each new sunrise! The moment that we confess our lack of faith in His provision, His love, His faithfulness, He forgives us. When we cry out for wisdom, the Holy Spirit directs us to passages in the Bible. The Holy Spirit is our Counselor and our teacher, He leads us into all truth.

Our Father’s attention to the details of our life are staggering. He instructs us to RENEW our minds with His love letter to us. “Think about whatever is good, lovely, and praiseworthy.” We are to think about ourselves as He does, with grace and love. Our Father tells us to pray for one another, and to forgive others as we’ve been forgiven. In the womb, we were fearfully made and designed to praise God. We were wonderfully made with 5 senses so that we can live in awe of how He uniquely designed each person with such incredible gifts. Our Father invites us to collaborate with the Holy Spirit and to do our best. His love never fails, and God’s Word only speaks truth. Our Father always loves us even when we are our worst messy self. He assigned us angels, He gives us a passion, a fire, and the will to serve others by sharing how He changed us from a mess into His masterpiece. We are unified in Christ Jesus and in His Spirit we are One, neither male nor female, but equally loved. FREED in CHRIST we are FREE to celebrate our mistakes because they remind us of His unfailing love.

Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus, I purpose and choose to repent, and renounce any envy, guilt, shame, or bitterness towards myself or others. Father forgive me for my rebellion and resistance to learn more and receive freshened revelation from the Holy Spirit. Forgive me Father for not trusting that You know more than my favored teachers. Forgive me for not surrendering all that I am to the care of Your faithfulness, love and abundant grace. In the name of Jesus, I cancel all debts and obligations to me. Lord Jesus, forgive me for my reluctance, and unwillingness to quickly forgive those who have offended me, hurt me or ridiculed me. In the name of Jesus and by the power of His blood, I cancel all Satan’s authority over me and I shut the mouth of the Liar, and the tormenting thoughts that I am not good enough. Today, I choose to forgive myself because my Father has forgiven me. With the authority that God gave me, I command that all the tormentors that have been assigned to me because of my unforgiveness and bitterness to leave me now! Holy Spirit as I strive for excellence in my walk with the Lord, to be holy, to be perfect as He is holy and perfect, heal my heart, renew my mind and tell me Your truth. AMEN — If in doubt, if your heart still wonders, be encouraged further. Barbie Writes