DAY 14 - LORD, PRESERVE ME IN PURITY AND HOLINESS.
Many are intimidated whenever the topic of 'Holiness' comes up. Being holy is not being perfect. It's letting Him who is holy be in you. We can't be holy on our own but we can make choices that allow holiness and purity to be manifested in our lives. We can separate ourselves from that which dilutes God's holiness in us and die to our lusts. And we are able to do this because "those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires" (Galatians 5:24. We are not slaves to our flesh but are able to live pure lives consecrated to the Lord. You may not be able to describe what holiness is but you know it when you don't see it. Here are seven descriptions of what holiness is and how to know when you don't see it in yourself.
1. Holiness means separating yourself from the world - We live in this world but the bible makes us understand we are not of the world. It is hard to separate our lives for the world when we live in it but you can ask God to help you separate yourself from the things of the world and learn to love Him more than you love it. Certain choices will have to be make like turning off that TV program, not go to certain places, not read certain magazines, not going to see certain movies.
2. Holiness means purifying yourself - Purifying yourself means asking God, who is holy to purify your heart. It means taking stock of our lives, thoughts, actions, associations and business dealings. It means actively checking ourselves daily and cleansing ourselves from anything that contaminates us. We are to deliberately turn away from anything that glorifies immorality and other unholiness. Pray that you will be able to thoroughly search out and examine your ways, and turn to the Lord.
3. Holiness means living in the Spirit and not in the flesh - Our fleshly thoughts will disqualify us as much as our actions. Are we jealous of anyone? Do we have strife? Is there unresolved division in our lives? Do we willfully allow sin a place? If so, then we are living in the flesh. and it will destroy us. When you look honestly at the fruit of your life, you can see by what you are reaping whether you have sown to the flesh or to the Spirit. Pray that God will help you live in the Spirit and not the flesh.
4. Holiness means staying clear of sexual immorality - The greatest lie our society has blindly accepted is that sexual sin is okay. I must grieve the Holy Spirit to see how women sell themselves short of all God has for them because they have bought into this lie. For example, a self-deceived generation believes that oral sex with someone they aren't married to is not actually sex at all, so therefore they can indulge their flesh and not reap any consequences. "there is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, yet is not washed from its filthiness" (Proverbs 30:12). While they may be safe from conceiving a baby, they will conceive death in their souls and then wonder why after they are married the passion in their marriage dies. Holiness means not falling prey to fashion or trends of thought or deed. "For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God" (I Thessalonians 4:3-5). Ask God to keep you sexually pure in your mind, soul and body.
5. Holiness means being sanctified by Jesus - Once we have received Jesus, we can't continue to live our old sinful lifestyle. Now that we have Him living in us and the Holy Spirit filling us, we have no excuse. This doesn't mean we don't have to be concerned about sin anymore and can do whatever we want because He took care of it. It means we must continue to dwell with Him and ask God to help us live in all He bought for us on the cross.
6. Holiness means walking close to God - When we do not pursue a close walk with God and a lifestyle of purity and peace, we are unable to see the Lord with any kind of clarity. Esteeming the holiness of God and living in purity is the only way we are able to be close to Him. There is nothing more important than being close to God.
7. Holiness means letting God keep you - Holiness is not something you slip in and out of like a nightgown. holiness is God's will for our lives, and something God has planned for us from the beginning. God has made a way for us to live in holiness. And he is able to keep us holy. When our heart wants to live in purity and do the right thing, God will keep us from falling into sin. People are drawn to holiness because it is attractive, even though they may resist it in their own lives. Ask God to enhance your beauty with the beauty of His holiness.
PRAYER
Lord, You have said in Your Word that You did not call me to uncleanness, but in holiness (I Thessalonians 4:7). You chose me to be holy and blameless before You. I know that I have been washed clean and made holy by the blood of Jesus (I Corinthians 6:11). You have clothed me in Your righteousness and enabled me to put on the new man "in true righteousness and holiness" (Ephesians 4:24). Continue to purify me by the power of Your Spirit. Help me to "cling to what is good" (Romans 12:9) and keep myself pure (I Timothy 5:22).
Lord, help me to separate myself from anything that is not holy. I don'y want to waste my life on things that have no value. Give me discernment to recognise that which is worthless and remove myself from it. Help me not to give myself to impure things, but rather to those things that fulfill Your plans for my life. Enable me to do what it takes to get everything rooted out of my life that is not Your best for me, so I can live the way You want me to live. Show me how to tear down any idols in my life and eliminate any sources of unholy thoughts, such as TV, movies, books, videos and magazines, that do not glorify You. Help me to examine my ways so that I can return to Your ways wherever I have strayed. Enable me to take any steps necessary in order to be pure before You.
Lord, I want to be Holy as You are holy. Make me a partaker of Your holiness (Hebrews 12:10), and may my spirit, soul and body be kept blameless (I Thessalonians 5:23). I know that You have called me to purity and holiness and You have said that "He who calls you is faithful, who will also do it" (I Thessalonians 5:24). Thank You that You will keep me pure and holy so I will be fully prepared for all You have for me. Amen.
Scriptures for Meditation
Ephesians 1:4
Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.
Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.
II Timothy 2:20-21
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.
II Corinthians 7:1
Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Isaiah 35:8-10
A highway shall be there, and a road, And it shall be called the Highway of Holiness.
The unclean shall not pass over it, But it shall be for others. Whoever walks the road, although a fool, Shall not go astray. No lion shall be there, Nor shall any ravenous beast go up on it; It shall not be found there. But the redeemed shall walk there, And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, And come to Zion with singing, With everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, And sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
#inspired...ann #WiseQuotes
*Stomie Omartian, The Power of a Praying Woman(2006)
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