You’re ‘perfect’ while being made ‘holy’

Stop putting yourself down by saying, ‘I keep failing, so I’m no good. I never do anything right.’ If you keep telling yourself that, you will find evidence to prove it. One counsellor says: ‘Putting yourself down reinforces rather than corrects your imperfections by placing unnecessary attention and energy on everything that’s wrong, rather than what’s right with you. Why would you do this knowing the only possible result is a negative outlook, more negative feelings, and less appreciation for the gift of life? People who regularly put themselves down are seen as complainers, not to mention the example they set. Everyone has aspects of themselves they’d like to improve, but this doesn’t mean you should beat yourself up.’ The Bible says, ‘He forever made perfect those who are being made holy.’ Max Lucado writes: ‘Underline the word perfect. Note, the word isn’t better. Not improving. Not on the upswing. God doesn’t improve; He perfects. He doesn’t enhance, He completes…I realise there’s a sense in which we’re imperfect. We still err. We still stumble. We still do exactly what we don’t want to do…that part of us is “being made holy”. But when it comes to our position before God, we’re perfect. When He sees each of us [who have placed our trust in Christ to save us], He sees someone who has been made perfect through the One who is perfect – Jesus Christ.’ Yes, you should continue to work on improving yourself, but go easy; stop often and remind yourself that you are ‘being made new and are becoming like the One who made you’ (Colossians 3:10 NCV).