The Perfection of Another Within
Being carried forward without striving—His life moves us from within.
Devotional Credit: A.B. Simpson, Days of Heaven on Earth
Photo Credit: Unsplash
Jeremiah’s words cut through the illusion of independence: “a man’s way is not his own.” That is not a judgment, but a gift—an invitation to relinquish the exhausting burden of self-direction and self-effort. In today’s devotional, A.B. Simpson points us back to the beauty of union with Christ, reminding us that Jesus is not merely our example, but our indwelling life. He didn’t come to leave us with a model to follow in our own strength; He came to be Himself in us.
This is the heartbeat of holiness and wholeness. It is not that we imitate Christ from afar, striving to resemble Him through our best efforts, but that we participate in His life—His very thoughts, His character, His impulses becoming our own through our union with Him. We are not called to be better versions of ourselves but to let go of both our worst failures and our finest attempts, and to rest in the truth that His perfect life is being formed in us.
Some resist the idea of perfection, assuming it means flawlessness or sinless effort. But true perfection is Christ Himself being expressed through a yielded vessel. It is not our striving that brings about this life, but our surrender to what already indwells us. Grace lifts us above our failures—not by making us stronger in ourselves, but by replacing our best efforts with His divine sufficiency.
Personalized Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture
I have not left you to find your own way. I have not asked you to trace My footsteps with trembling hands or weary striving. I am your life. I walk in you, move in you, think in you. Your steps are not random; they are directed by My presence within. You are not abandoned to chart your course—your heart belongs to Me, and I am the One who makes your path straight.
Let go of trying to be good for Me. Let go of the pressure to perfect yourself. I do not improve the old; I indwell the new. You are in Me, and I am in you. When you allow My life to rise within, it is not imitation—it is manifestation. My holiness flows through the very fiber of your being, not because you strive for it, but because you abide in Me.
You have My mind, not by effort, but by birthright. You belong to Me. Rest in that. Walk in that. Yield moment by moment, and you will find that what you once tried to become now flows freely from within.
Scriptures: Jeremiah 10:23, Galatians 2:20, Philippians 2:5, Romans 8:9-10
Real-Life Analogy
It’s like switching from manually steering a bicycle uphill to being carried effortlessly on a moving walkway. When you stop pedaling and step onto the platform, you’re still moving forward—but it’s no longer by your own exertion. The direction is still purposeful, but the power comes from beneath your feet, not your own legs.
Prayer of Confidence
Father, thank You that I no longer need to rely on myself—not for direction, not for righteousness, not for healing, and not for holiness. I trust that the life of Your Son in me is more than enough. You’ve already exchanged my striving for Your sufficiency. So today, I rest. I yield. I watch as Christ expresses His perfect life through mine. I’m not trying to be like Him—I am joined to Him, and He is everything I need.