In between sleep and awake, the quick ticking from the game Perfection was stuck in my head. I never liked playing it. I think whoever came up with it was a super villain with an OCD he or she was determined to program into the world. “Perfection” was particularly difficult considering how many pieces were bouncing and sliding off tables; I don’t know many families who were able to, especially those with dogs. I believe several unique shapes made their way through the bowels of our cocker spaniel.

But there was something to the memory, so I let the sound fill my thoughts until it became a picture of a demon playing the game. Each piece represented a rejection, failure, regret, and a litany of other painful memories and negative thoughts. The thing was jamming them in with practiced speed until they were all in place, then turned the timer off so I had to live with them all.

But then Jesus spoke to my heart about how he sees me, and who he is for me. As he encouraged, taught, and loved me, the shapes on the board changed. The demon tried to fit the old pieces in, but none of them fit. When the timer went off, rather than pieces flying out, the demon popped like a balloon.

No matter what old negative thought comes up against you, remember you’re different now. Even if you need to deal with the consequences of bad choices, or the judgments of unchanged people, you get to live as the person God says you are, in all his love, grace, and truth. You have been made perfect in Jesus.

“Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone, and a new life has begun” (2 Cor. 5:17).