The new year is upon us, spurring thoughts of resolutions. What to do? Shall we pray more? Be kinder? Walk more? Eat less? Maybe we all take a deep breath and relax.

We can do it all, however, perfectly.

Yes, I said that.

Ever anxious me is an advocate of deep breathing, though, as it calms the body. Grace builds upon nature, too, not the best foundations I grant you.

Human beings have a manifestly fallen human nature. There’s no need to reference Adam and Eve. Anyone reading this blog post has experienced falling short at least once. Whatever we tell ourselves, there is a war between the flesh and the spirit that’s never quite over. That less-than-pure intention, a snippy comeback, subtle judgments, or plain old pride always finds a home inside us.

There is hope, however.

Perfection awaits us, every moment.

Don’t believe me?

That’s okay. I wouldn’t believe me either. The Master has this to say:

• Matthew 19:26: But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’

Now, to my point of focusing on the Jesus parts. The Lord clearly says that all things are possible with God. That includes perfection. How you ask? Jesus also said that only God is good. Seems like a Catch-22, but here’s the rub.

God is goodness itself.

His ways are not our ways.

His thoughts are thoughts of peace.

Again, don’t take my word for it.

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

That’s one loving Father!

Now, back to the Jesus parts.

Christ calls us to perfection every day.

The trick?

Not all things are meant for all people.

We muddle what perfection is by relying on our own ideas.

Perfection in sports would be me warming the bench. That’s all I was built to do in that arena. So, my sideline position would be the perfect play.

Similarly, the perfection of charity for me is to look to those around me and act with the spirit to the best of my ability, relying on God—perfection—to supply the rest. I am no Mother Theresa, and that is okay. Perfection for me doesn’t lie in my following her path, however holy and sacrificial and charitable it was.

Lean into the Lord who is perfection itself. That’s the way. Acceptance of our state as constantly striving-but-never-quite-getting-there creatures is where it’s at.

I hope you agree. The tendency to think less of ourselves, because we aren’t called to the same peaks as others, is an exercise in humility. Pride finds a home inside each of us and only God is good. I’ll give you a quote to drive that one home.

Luke 18:19: “Why dost thou call me good? None is good but God alone”

The desire to be seen as better, even in our own eyes, is vanity. Being harsh with ourselves, is to be harsh with the least of Christ’s brothers. We don’t want to hurt Our Lord, do we?

So, on the off chance that resolutions make you anxious like me, hold off. Consider wisely. To compare yourself disparagingly to another, even the you of the past, or an ideal that has yet to be, remember this:

John 21: 21-22 …Lord, and what shall this man (John) do? 22Jesus saith to him (Peter): So, I will have him to remain till I come, what is it to thee? Follow thou me.

Be perfect this year. Read the Jesus parts!!