You’re perfect while being made holy.

Stop putting yourself down by saying, ‘I keep failing, so I’m no good. I never do anything right.’ If you keep telling yourself that, you will find evidence to prove it.

Richard Carlson says: ‘Putting yourself down reinforces rather than corrects your imperfections by placing unnecessary attention and energy on everything that’s wrong, rather than what’s right with you. Why would you do this knowing the only possible result is a negative outlook, more negative feelings, and less appreciation for the gift of life? People who regularly put themselves down are seen as complainers, not to mention the example they set. Everyone has aspects of themselves they’d like to improve, but this doesn’t mean you should beat yourself up.’

The Bible says, ‘For by one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.’ Hebrews 10:14 Underline the word perfect. The word is not better or improving. God doesn’t improve; He perfects. He doesn’t enhance; He completes. There is, of course, a sense in which we’re imperfect. We still make mistakes. We still stumble. We still do exactly what we don’t want to do. That part of us is being made holy. But when it comes to our position before God, we’re perfect. When He sees each of us through the eyes of Jesus, He sees someone who has been made perfect through the One who is perfect—Jesus Christ. Yes, you should continue to work on improving yourself, but go easy; stop often and remind yourself that you have ‘put on the new self, which is being renewed in the knowledge and image of its Creator.’ (Colossians 3:10 NIV)