Enlightened, Encouraged, Strengthened, Prepared

1 Thessalonians 5:23

Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.

Once we are washed clean by the blood of Our Savior, the Holy Spirit dwells within us to assist us in our journey toward complete sanctification.  We will never reach complete sanctification in this life.  Our full transformation is reserved for the time when we stand in the presence of God in His throne of glory and hear the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant".

Until that time, the Holy Spirit will take us through an intense narrowing of our interests.  Less and less will the things of the world call us.  More and more we will hear the voice of Our Savior as we press toward complete holiness.

Through it all, we are sure to fail from time to time.  But we can be confident by virtue of the faith and promises given to us by Our Creator that He will do for us what we cannot do for ourselves.  He will provide an ever flowing fountain of grace that will enlighten us, encourage us, strengthen us and prepare us to stand before Him without spot or wrinkle.

Let us yield to all that God is doing to lead us into rich encounters with His Son.  Let us ask the Holy Spirit's help in ushering us into a new season in which we seek a new brokenness and a deeper dependence upon Him in all that we do.  Let us learn to put the heart of Jesus on the top of every agenda that we have.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank You for making us blameless and holy in Your sight.  We bless the name of Jesus who washes away all of our sins.  We live our lives full of thanksgiving for the constant presence of the Holy Spirit.  We pray for the grace to walk in the holiness that has been given to us through Our Savior.  May we learn to ignore the world's agenda and to surrender completely to the way, the truth and the life that is Your Son, Jesus.  May we leave the green grass of earth to rest forever in the pasture of the Lamb.  We ask all this things in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.