Godliness, sometimes we're just trying too hard

"For this reason, make every effort to add to your faith, goodness; and to goodness, knowledge, and to knowledge self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowlege of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:5-8

Godliness. It seems like an impossibility, but when you look at it sandwiched in the midst of all of these traits it's clear that they each build on one another. Godliness - a genuine reverence for God that governs one's attitude toward every aspect of life (NIV notes) seems to me to be the crux. We often strive for godliness thinking we have to act like God. Who knew that by assuming a posture of genuine reverence toward God, godliness would manifest itself in us? We can't make it happen, we have to let it happen.