If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Colossians 3:1-4
Envision your perfect day.
For me, I wake up before the kids, have my prayer time and Bible study while watching the sunrise. I exercise and make a healthy breakfast for everyone. The kids happily eat what’s prepared for them. We go for a walk and Justus goes down for his nap without a peep. Finn and I do a science experiment and read books together. He doesn’t whine or complain. The kids play independently while I make lunch and they both eat all their food without grumbling. We read a book together and get ready for nap. Finn doesn’t drag his feet, whine or procrastinate. He obeys the first time. Justus is happy and the two of them play well together. During nap time, I accomplish every single task I set out to do plus have time to relax and read a book before the kids wake up. I cook a delicious and healthy dinner that’s ready right when Tyler gets home from work. The house is spotless when he walks in and the kids greet him with smiles and big hugs. We have a joyous dinner together discussing our days. The kids go down for bed without protest and lots of hugs and kisses are exchanged. Tyler and I talk and laugh on the porch while I drink tea and he rubs my feet. We go to sleep early so we’re well-rested for the next day – the house is clean, dishes done and put away, laundry completed, and all of our clothes are laid out and prepared for the next day. It goes without saying that the kids sleep through the night and wake up the next day with big smiles on their faces.
Ah. What a dream, right?
I’m going to be really honest with you guys: I expect every day to look like this. I’m constantly striving for this sort of fantastical perfection and am disappointed when it’s not achieved.
Which means I’m disappointed a lot. By myself, by my husband, by my kids and, if I’m honest, by God.
I mean, why wouldn’t God want my days to look like this? Wouldn’t that be most pleasing to Him?
I can often forget that this life isn’t about being happy or most fulfilled. This life isn’t about me.
I love this verse in Colossians, how it says, “Christ, who is your life.” Does this describe me? Is my life defined by and filled by Christ?
If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.
Luke 9:24
Mamas, this life is a spiritual battle, one where our hearts and souls are on the line. It’s about God fighting for us and us fighting for God.
Satan wants us to become consumed with our own weird sort of perfection so that we lose sight of what God is calling us to.
This life is a test to see what we will choose. Will we choose God? Will we choose Jesus and eternity and Love? Or we will pursue our own desires above everything else? (Including searching for a quasi-Christian ideal of perfection which is just stressful and disappointing.)
“For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.”
2 Corinthians 5:14-15
In Jesus we already have the sort of perfection that God desires for us. We don’t need to waste our time attempting to recreate something that falls woefully short.
The crazy thing about pursuing our own “perfection” is that in the process we lose sight of Jesus and instead focus on what Satan wants us to focus on: ourselves.
Today, let’s choose to fix our eyes on Jesus. To let go of the ‘perfect day’ and instead embrace whatever God has in store for us, knowing that He is working for the good (Romans 8:28).
So, mamas, what will we choose? What kind of days will really fulfill us? Is it when the dishes are done and our kids are obedient and happy? Or is it the days that we remember we are cleansed from our sins and have the hope of a resurrected life? Because only one of those options can happen every single day.
Let’s not lose sight that there’s a battle waging around us for our hearts and souls, and for the souls of our children and spouses. Let’s throw off whatever is hindering us from choosing God (Hebrews 12:1-3). And let’s spend each and every day remembering just what Jesus has done for us so that we can have true, eternal fulfillment in Him.
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