Written byLiliana Henriquez, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Bogota, Colombia.

When you first heard this verse, "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Mt 5:48 NIV), what did you think? Did you associate it with "always behaving well"? I don't remember exactly what I thought, but I probably would have had the same thought. That's a pretty simplistic view of what Jesus really meant.

Today, after several years following Jesus, I realize that holiness is not a destination that we arrive at and remain, but a path that we travel day by day. From experience, I am convinced that holiness is a process of transformation whose goal is to make us ever more like Christ: in His actions, in His way of thinking, of treating others, and of living in obedience to the Father's will. In other words, God perfects us little by little, from glory to glory.

What does this imply?

It implies that we have a lot of work ahead of us. The version of us when we started this race cannot be the same as the one that ends it. We should come to the encounter with Christ as transformed women.

What can we do?

1. Recognize that following Christ has a cost.

Jesus was clear: following Him means giving one's whole life to Him (Lk 14:25-33). We no longer command ourselves; we have voluntarily decided to let ourselves be guided by Him.

2. Obey with submission and love.

If we already recognize that the Father's will is our priority, then we must surrender to Him with trust and love.

3. Cultivate an intimate relationship with God.

We are soldiers in an army commanded by God. To fulfill our purpose, we need to hear His instructions and be in tune with Him through prayer, the Word, and constant fellowship.

It is easier said than done.

However, as the saying goes, “Practice makes perfect.” If we want to be women of faith and holiness, we must practice, practice, practice... until our character is strengthened and it becomes more natural for us to bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit in any of its nine "tastes": love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal 5:22-23).

It's not going to go perfectly on the first try. But if we continue to strive with the help of the Spirit, we will be holy as He is holy.

I encourage you to keep moving forward, you're doing well!

Written byCorina Díaz, volunteer with Iron Sister Ministries in Buenos Aires, Argentina

A few years ago, I decided to learn to play the guitar. I dreamed of being able to praise God with my own hands, play chords, and sing to Him freely. I practiced, I got frustrated, my fingers hurt, some notes came out wrong, and I compared myself to others. And, on more than one occasion, I thought, “This isn't for me. I'll never be good. I'll never be… perfect.”

And then that phrase became familiar. I repeated it to myself in many other areas of my life:
"But I can't be perfect…

…as a wife,
…as a friend,
…as a daughter of God.”

Sometimes we demand so much of ourselves that we feel that if we fail to meet a visible standard of "holiness," then we are not worthy. We forget that the Christian life is not a life of perfection, but of redemption.

Jesus doesn't ask us for perfection. He offers us transformation.

There's a cultural and often religious pressure to "do everything right." But Jesus never called perfect disciples; He called fishermen, tax collectors, women with difficult pasts, impulsive young people, and ordinary people like you and me.

Jesus doesn't expect us to come to Him fixed; He welcomes us broken and restores us.

My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.(2Co 12:9 NKJV)

This verse changed my perspective. I don't have to be enough. I don't have to do it alone. Jesus’ perfection makes up formy weakness, my clumsiness, my falls, and my imperfection.

Does practice make perfect?

We could say yes if we understand that practice isn't just about doing things well, but about allowing ourselves to be formed by the Master. Our practice is to surrender every day, to try again, and never to give up. We do this not to achieve human perfection, but out of love for the One who loved us first.

…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Php 1:6 NIV)

God is working in us; we just have to allow Him to do it: surrender to Him what we are, what we are not, and what we cannot be, because when we do, He works wonders.

I want to share with you my prayer, which I titled: 

Prayer of the Heart

       Lord Jesus:
       I come to you just as I am.
       Not perfect, not enough, not capable on my own.
       But here I am, with my weaknesses, my failures, and my attempts.
       Thank you for not asking me for perfection, but for a relationship.
       I surrender my imperfections, my desire for control, and my fear of failure to you. Teach me to practice Your presence, Your Word, and Your grace every day.
       And may my life be a work in Your hands.

       Amen.