In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus [no longer a slave to what you don’t want to do]. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness …

When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. ~ Romans 6:11-13, 20-22, NIV

Lord, I’m so thankful I belong to You and You belong to me. What a miracle to realize that the Creator of the Universe knows my name, knows my worries, my fears, my doubts.

You are my Sure Place — my anchor in this raging storm.

I love You with all my heart, but this sanctification is hard.

Why do I do the things I don’t want to do and don’t do the things I do want to do? I’m not a bad person. I desire to please You, to obey You … I really do. So why do I struggle so much.

And why does this battle get stronger the more I want to be transformed into the image of Christ?

I know You are for me and not against me. I know You are my strength when I am weak. I know You fight my battles as I yield to Your authority.

So what’s my problem?

If I am dead to sin, why do I struggle in this one area so much? Why isn’t running to You my automatic response to stress or emotional upset — YOU, my Comforter, my Provider, my Healer.

Instead I run to what the world has to offer to calm my spirit. I run to food. Others run to alcohol, or possibly drugs, or to who knows what.

But they don’t run to You either, Lord.

Eventually, maybe. But not at first.

Just like me.

How long does this sanctification process take, Lord?

Help us align ourselves with Your expectations of righteousness. Give us courage and the resolve to change our selfish ways.

Thank You for shining Your light on these areas of disobedience — these areas we want to hold fast to. In the light it loses power. In the light Satan is defeated.

Help us yield to You more and more as You lead us down these paths of righteousness. This is what we desire, Lord — to honor You in all things and in all our ways. We desire to be sanctified for You — to be set apart for Your glory.

Thank You, Lord, for Your longsuffering and Your unconditional love. Lead us in all things holy.

In Jesus’s Name I pray,

Amen

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Please don’t carry your burdens alone. I would be honored to pray for you. You may contact me directly at nan@nanjones.com

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Thank you so much for stopping by. I would love for you to share what’s on your heart in the comments below. Scroll a little farther down and you’ll see where you can leave your comments. Together, we can find the nearness of God in our darkest moments.

Sweet blessings to you,

NAN