Excellence vs. Perfection
by Diana Scothorn
Mac Davis wrote an old country song with the lyrics, “Oh Lord, it’s hard to be humble when your perfect in every way.”
For many years, the attempt to be PERFECT was a stronghold.
I can remember being in the third grade, and my…
…hair bow had to be tied perfectly, and my dress without wrinkles, or I would take it off and change clothes.
When I was in the seventh grade, if my hair wasn’t PERFECT, I would rewash it before leaving for school! In high school, if my paper didn’t have PERFECT cursive, I would tear it up after it was finished and start all over.
As an adult, my perfection caused me to judge others for their imperfection. I had confused the spirit of excellence with perfection, also translated as PRIDE!
Although I had a spirit of excellence, the devil quickly seized the opportunity to pervert that spirit into a spirit of perfection. All this from a tiny little “seed” of pride (planted by the devil as a child) to be perfect.
That’s what the devil does. He twists the things of God to destroy our purpose. How accurate the lyrics are, it’s hard to be “humble” and “perfect”.
To be excellent means to be free from any shortcomings. Humble means to be free from the independence of our will. Often our shortcomings and weaknesses were meant to be our greatest strengths! We have to have the patience to develop the gifts God has given us.
2 Corinthians 12:9 says, “My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly, I will boast in my infirmities that the power of Christ may reside.
I’m grateful I learned the Grace of God makes me sufficient in my weakness, and it’s in His power that makes all things perfect in my time of need. Now, I don’t strive to be perfect but humble myself to be perfected in Him in every way!
If we humble ourselves before God and submit our independence to Him, He will take our shortcomings, lift us above our circumstances, and He makes us perfect and complete in Him!
~Diana
Diana Scothorn published author of “Daily Dose with Diana“, has a heart for helping women succeed, with a focus on a strong, spiritual, mental, and physical core. Diana’s background in the health and fitness world began with one of the most iconic names in fitness, Richard Simons. Overseeing ladies’ health clubs for 10-plus years allowed Diana to step into a passion for marketplace ministry even before ministering the gospel in business was widely accepted.
She’s been married to her prince charming, Stewart, going on 12 years, and they enjoy spending time with their 4 kids and 8 grandchildren. Both are ordained ministers of the Gospel, serve on the board of several well-known ministries, and are also co-owners of, The Benefit Link, Inc., a marketplace ministry business, which has been number one in the field for over 25 years and is licensed in all 50 States, serving senior citizens in need of compassion, prayer, and guidance when facing the challenges of the Medicare maze.
Diana’s been featured in Society Magazine’s Successful Business Women of the Year for 2018, 2019, and 2020. As an international speaker, Diana has traveled abroad for over 10 years, along with her husband, to help support missions throughout Europe and South America, focusing on funding the Kingdom and advancing the gospel.
Connect with Diana on Instagram and Facebook, where she has “Diana’s Daily Devotionals” encouraging and inspiring women to live daily in victory.
