This is one of my favorite sayings in life.  Progress, not perfection.  I learned it about five years ago.  I’m quick to admit that with an achiever personality, I have strived to reach unrealistically high expectation time and time again.  I’ve always wanted to be a champion, to do it at break neck speeds and accomplish it on my own.

Life’s experiences and the blessing of amazing people in my life have helped me to realize that becoming a champion is about slow and steady progress.  It’s never about being perfect.  Jesus is perfect.  I am not.  That is whyI need him.  It is through Christ’s help an not self help that we can do all things.

We’ve all heard that life is a journey.  It’s a process.  It’s about making progress along the way.  The great news is that God is there to help us each step of the way.  That is why it says in Isaiah 30:21, “whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying ‘This is the way, walk in it'”.

It says in Psalm 37:23, “the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and He delights in his way”.  I’m so glad we serve a God of order and organization.  If God has taken the time to lay steps before us, then it seems to me our job is to make progress moving along the path God has for us.

Up to this point, life sure sounds like a lot of work.  Making progress on the path God has call each of us to will help us to find moments to celebrate, moments to rejoice in and moments to praise the Lord for.  No one cares more about our progress than God does.  He doesn’t expect us to be perfect, so why do we expect it of ourselves?

Dear Lord,  thank you so much for ordering our steps.  Thank you for giving us a path to follow in this life.  By following our paths the best we can, may we bring glory and honor to you.  Help us to not live with thoughts of condemnation, but to listen to the Holy Spirit’s words of encouragement so that we may bask in your perfection and we make progress.   In Jesus name, Amen.