A Lesson for July: You Are The Perfect Masterpiece

 I love the month of July!!!

Not just because it's my birth month [Although that's a big deal], but because it's the seventh month of the year and it screams completion and perfection.

'There are 7 colours in the rainbow, 7 notes on a diatonic scale, 7 days in a week, 7 days in the creation story, 7 spirits of God, 7 churches in the book of Revelation and the list goes on.' Everything with the number 7 is complete and perfect so I'm happy to be writing in such a blessed month! 

Why the crash course on the number 7? 

Well, last week was one of those weeks where things felt a bit off.

I had a full schedule with many tasks to complete, and I didn't manage all of them as smoothly as I had hoped. Deadlines seemed to slip away, and I felt the pressure of my own high expectations. To add to that, I skipped my Quiet Time once, rushed my prayers repeatedly, and got into a few disagreements with my family. Every little issue seemed to escalate and I just felt terrible. 

Topping the list, was the very interesting drama I had in church. While helping my mum brush her hair in a really public place, I accidentally pulled off her wig. The embarrassment! We both stood there in shock for a moment before bursting into laughter. Although, she was fine, deep down, I was mortified. 

Every error and every misstep brought on the frustrating fear of not being good enough, not doing things right, and not trying as hard as I should. As always, I had let my actions cloud my judgment.

Is the big story that I crossed over to July, the 7th month, and now everything is perfect? Obviously not!

The big story is that all through my clumsy and seemingly error-filled week, the Holy Spirit kept saying, "You are so hung up on perfectionism and I never taught you to live that way. You are My workmanship, chosen regardless of everything you have done, are doing or don't do, and you are loved, holy, and blameless in My sight" (Ephesians 2:10, Colossians 3:12). 

Not to be a psychologist or anything, but I know that there are so many people like me who are hung up on the idea that they can and must be perfect people or they've failed. They have absolutely no stomach for weakness or mistakes and beat themselves up over every error. They even pride themselves in this warped and sinful idea that they are "perfectionists."

Funnily, I can imagine that because of this very stressful mindset, they usually have moments of frustration and guilt for not measuring up. They often jump on the self-hate train only desiring to be as good as every other imperfect person they think is better than them.  

Here's the truth: 

God made you perfect! There’s no need to feel guilty or ashamed every time there's a glitch. Nothing is wrong with you so you don't need to crucify yourself the moment you do something wrong whether at work, at home, or in your relationship with God or men. 

The Bible says that God knows our frame and remembers we are dust (Ps 103:14). We are literally, perfectly imperfect humans! And if God takes into consideration our make, why is it so hard to cut ourselves some slack?

Think about King David, who despite his flaws and mistakes, was called a man after God's own heart. Or Peter, who denied Jesus three times, yet was chosen to be the rock upon which the church was built. I can't even fathom the amount of guilt they must have felt when their sins were revealed. Still, God considered them perfect examples for us to follow.

As we move through July, the seventh month, or as I fondly call it, The Month of Perfection, let's remember that perfection is not about being flawless but about embracing our divine design and thriving despite any imperfections. Attempting to be perfect by yourself is not what God wants, because, it takes away your dependence on Him and places it on yourself till you become your own idol and ruin things.  Worst of all, you make Him a liar, because when He says you can't be anything less than the best, you'll always have a million reasons why it isn't true.

Would you still experience challenges that weigh you down? Yes! Everybody does!!

The solution at those times is to fix your mistakes as they come, handle the errors diligently, and sort out the challenges trusting for divine assistance. Just do one thing right, 'Don't stop believing that God made you a completely perfect person, and your mistakes can best be solved with God's help.'

Happy New Month Perfect People! 

See you on the 15th!