What Do You Consider Perfect? Part 1
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — His good, pleasing, and perfect will.”
Romans 12:1-2
Perfection is defined as the highest degree of proficiency, skill, or excellence, as in some art or a quality, trait, or feature of the highest degree of excellence. The world tells us we need to be perfect, there is no room for anything less. That is what we strive for in our relationships with friends and family, our careers, our roles as mothers and wives, and our bodies. I mean, if I’m truthful, we place these expectations not only on ourselves but those around us. When those around us are not perfect we are disappointed in them. When does the rat race end?
As I started researching this topic, I was astounded at the amount of pressure put on women to look a certain way, make huge accomplishments in their lives, and to live busy lives that make no time for rest.
Our minds are conforming to the pattern of the world. We expect our superficial lives to be a certain way. At what point do we stop and say to ourselves, “This isn’t working; I need to transform my mind to God’s perfection, not mine.”
Romans 12:1-2 says, “Therefore I exhort you, brothers, through the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that you may approve what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.”
The Greek word for reasonable used here is logikos, which can mean “spiritual”, suggesting worship that involves your heart and mind along with physical offerings and sacrifice. It can also be translated as “proper” and “true”. So, it is proper and true to present ourselves in worship to God by allowing His perfect will to be the focus of our lives, not our idea of perfection.
How do we transform our minds away from what the world says? How do we stop this rat race we are continually running?
The next three weeks I am going to focus on three topics. We’re going to discuss body image, accomplishments, and busyness. Ladies, God loves you just the way He made you. He gave you certain gifts to use throughout your life so that you can glorify Him, and He gave you rest for a specific reason.
I hope to help you find practical ways to transform your mind away from the world and see the truth that God tells you. These topics can be for your teenage sons and daughters, your mother, or for yourself. These are not topics that are hitting one generation harder than the other. Every woman of every age suffers from pressure in at least one of these areas. I will be right alongside you learning these practical tools for my life as well. As I write this, tears are forming in my eyes because I know I struggle with these areas as well. I know I will shed a lot of tears in the next few weeks.
I want to end with a few statistics from an article in ABC Life by Luke Tribe.
Perfectionism- defined as judging yourself or your abilities to a high and very unrealistic, rigid level — is often linked to self-criticism, anxiety, depression, eating disorders and even sucidality, says Professor Wade.
Two-thirds of women reported feeling nervous, anxious or on edge nearly every day or on more than seven days in the last four weeks, the Jean Hailes survey found.
About one in eight females aged 15-64 self-reported having an anxiety related condition, compared with fewer than one in ten males in the last ABC survey on the topic.
Women tend to turn to self-criticism when stressed: 44% of females use self-criticism as a primary stress response, compared to 34% of males, the Medibio study found.
Ladies, it is time for us to transform our minds to God’s will for our lives. He made you in His image and loves and adores you!
Do some self reflection this week. Ask God what area of your life He is wanting you to transform from the world over to Him. If you ask something of God, He will answer you.
Join me next week as we dive into body image.
Power Verse:
“As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.” Psalm 18:30