A Prayer About Perfectionism
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us.
1 John 4:18-19
Gracious Father, I begin this day with a desire to live much less of a driven life and much more of a called life. In essence, I want to live with less fear and more freedom; less by frenzy and more by faith; with fewer obsessions and with much more adoration, of you, the God of all peace.
As I get older I just don’t have as much energy to “juggle as many balls” or “spin as many plates” as I used to. This is simultaneously a humbling thing and a good thing. For if greater grace comes to the humble, then accepting my limitations is essential for my liberation. Lord, I believe, help my unbelief!
It’s not difficult to see that my driven-ness, busy-ness, and much-ness are rooted in fear-the fear of not being enough and having enough; the fear of losing face and losing control; the fear of missing the mark and missing out.
Come, Lord Jesus, come. It is your perfect love that alone can liberate this poser, performer and perfectionist. Drive out my fears with the magnificent perfection of your loving substitution. You lived a life of perfect obedience for me as the second Adam, fulfilling everything God requires of me. You died a death of perfect love for me as the Lamb of God, exhausting God’s judgment against my sin. Your resurrection from the dead on the third day is the firstfruits and guarantee that one Day I will be as lovely as you and as loving as you, Jesus!
Indeed, one Day I will be made perfect in love, all because of you, Lord Jesus, for perfection can only be found in you. I love you because you first loved me and continue to love me. May your perfect love continue to drive all pernicious fear from my life. So very Amen, I pray, in Jesus’ name.