“And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect & complete, lacking in nothing.” ♥️ James 1:4

To be perfect… flawless… no hint of impurity… dazzling… remarkable.

Perfection can seem unattainable.

Impossible.

But did you know it’s a promise from God to you?

God says you’re perfect… complete… because Jesus adorns you… 💕 He’s madly in love with you.

There is no pressure in His love… only wonder… lightness. Egg shells shatter under your feet dancing with the One who beckons you into deep places.

I find it’s through the tests & obstacles of life we gain strength and endurance.

That’s when we see what we’re made of.

Because of Jesus in us, James 1 says it’s the obstacle itself that makes you perfect. You gain something.

This resilience manifests like a dark horse in times of testing.

You see strength God was building in you all along… and you’re unshaken. It proves Jesus’ spirit is in you.

In Matthew 5 Jesus teaches the people about what it means to follow Him and the paradigms of the Kingdom of God. He says, “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew‬ ‭5:48‬

The Father requires perfection and the good news is… perfection the Father freely imparts.  Notice Jesus says “perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.” It’s His standard of perfection. His rules. Not the world’s.

It’s not a burden. It’s a supernatural gift from the Lord who does this perfecting in us by His own spirit.

Jesus tells us it’s possible.

And James 1 says the trials do it for you.“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1:2-3‬

It’s in the trials of life you cultivate and discover deep-rooted resilience. It would seem the more we give, the more depleted we feel. But in Jesus’ kingdom, it’s an upside down kingdom…

…the more you pour out, the more Jesus fills you.

Because He gives you what you need again and again.

“Blessed are those whose strength is in You,
    in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
⁶ As they go through the Valley of Baca
    they make it a place of springs;
    the early rain also covers it with pools.
⁷ They go from strength to strength;
    each one appears before God in Zion.”

Psalm 84:5-7

Notice it says here they go from “strength to strength.”

For a group of pilgrims traveling through the dry terrain of the Valley of Baca it would seem depletion and fatigue would be their description here. But it’s not. It says they continually go from strength to strength. Why? Because they have their heart on Zion.

They’re seeking the Lord more than everything else and so nothing leaves them lacking.

there’s a dust storm

blowing in the desert

a light burning

through the fog

it can’t stop me from travelling

nor keep me from rallying

to the call

of Your voice

and the song of rejoicing

in Zion

beckon me closer and closer

as night falls

clearer and clearer

I see you, Lord

deeper and deeper

I feel You

all around me

Jesus

You’re here in the closeness

of the spaces I incline

to reach Your heart

but You reach for me

passionately

and I am forever

the delight

of the King who calls me

His bride

perfectly

clothed in white

“Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always.” 1 Chronicles 16:11

Their gaze is fixed on the Lord and nothing will stop them from getting closer to Him.

Where do you have your gaze?

What you trust in determines if you will be filled up or not… satisfied or empty… fulfilled or lacking.

Jesus wants to nourish you in every way… in your heart, in your mind, in your relationships, in your work, in whatever you need… so that you will be “perfect and complete, lacking nothing” just as James 1:4 says.

You don’t feel empty when Jesus is your Lord. ♥️

Jesus is the never ending spring… the rain pouring in the desert… the abundance flowing. There is no dry season with Him. Because He only gets better with time the more you know Him.

“No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”

Psalm 84:11