A Prayer for Perfectionists
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because He first loved us. 1 John 4:18-19
From time to time I have shared with some prayers written by Pastor Scotty Smith, who is the senior pastor of Christ Community Church in Franklin, TN. Scotty was personally mentored by a mutal friend, Dr. C. John Miller, founding pastor of New Life Presbyterian Church in Glenside, PA.
Scotty has a book of “Gospel-centered” prayers that I would highly recommend that you add to your devotional library. It is published by Multnomah, and can be ordered from America’s Keswick (732-350-1187 ext. 21)
I read this prayer yesterday, and it was right on target for me:
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 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 drivenness and busyness 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. Your perfect love alone can liberate this poser, performer, perfectionist. Drive out my fears by a greater grasp of your grace. 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 more 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. I pray in YOUR glorious name. Amen!
I needed to hear that today, guys. I needed to be whacked on the side of the head. This is right where I am – how about you? – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s Keswick
Compass Pointers: I have never heard of a sin being committed without knowing full well that I had the seed of it within myself. —Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Anchored to the Rock: God does nothing but in answer to prayer. John Wesley
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