WEDNESDAY'S WORD - PERFECTIONISM - Sadell Bradley 01/04/17- New Life Covenant Cincinnati

"Many people think of perfectionism as striving to be your best, but it is not about self-improvement; it's about earning approval and acceptance." - Brene Brown   Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor. - Anne Lamott PERFECTIONISM is the refusal to accept any standard short of perfection. Normally, a child would just scribble on the wall, but this young lady is measuring out her drawing to make it perfect, and taking all the fun out in the process. She simultaneously creates and criticizes her work, saying, "The sun is NOT yellow! Too big a tree! and Not even CLOSE to a stick person!" Perfectionists torment themselves doing tasks for the pleasure or approval of important others: parents, leaders, bosses, spouses, neighbors, family, friends or a larger audience. To be perfect means to have all the required or desirable elements qualities or characteristics; to be as good as it is possible to be; to be free from any flaw or defect; to be precisely accurate. To be perfect is to be approved of. Mistakes bring rejection. Anxiety can build so much internally, that it's hard to sign-up for projects. It's not so much in anticipation of others response, perfectionists often perform at high levels. It's avoiding the internal emotional war, and the irrational fear of failure. It at times presents with physical symptoms like a tight chest, headaches, or gastro- intestinal issues. You'd rather do nothing versus something at which you're not guaranteed to excel. I've been delivered from this oppression. Now I can feel it and arrest paralyzing perfectionist tendencies. GLORY! The doctrine of some religious and social circles is that perfection is attainable - even moral/spiritual perfection. This flies in the face of the GRACE Christ offers. God's grace is not just unmerited favor, but the Divine enablement to do what He has called us to do by HIS power. Prophet Mark Chironna said, "Grace says I can't; therefore God must!" In 2 Corinthians 12: 9-10 Paul describes the 'thorn in the flesh' that the Lord allowed Satan to buffet him with so he would not become prideful. After asking 3 times that this issue be removed, God told him, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness" to which Paul replied, "So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me." Remember, God resists/opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. (James 4:6) He looks for weakness! The other matter God deals with for perfectionists is the issue of APPROVAL.  We are completely and eternally loved by God. (Jeremiah 31:3) We don't have to win God's approval! WE are approved, which is not the same as saying that everything we do is ok.. .no more than it is with your son or daughter.  WE are approved by our loving Father. Our identification with Jesus Christ and His finished work bring us into adoption and ACCEPTANCE in the beloved. (Ephesians 1:6) If God is for us, who can be against us! Nothing can separate us from His love. (Romans 8)  Quiet as it's kept, we are often unknowingly approved of even by the people we so desire to hear it from - whether they say it or not. One small or large mistake isn't going change that. Most people don't even notice the things perfectionists deem so traumatic. So if perfectionism is holding you back, shed it in 2017. Perfect can be the enemy of good! It certainly is the enemy of peace, fun and progress. Don't let perfectionism win!

SUNDAY Worship

11:00 AM Worship
The Great Room Sunday Class
9:30 AM Youth Room Basement
at Wyoming Presbyterian
225 Wyoming Ave., 45215
For information 513-212-1131