Tag: work

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Rest and Retreat

I just love a good retreat. Give me a clear schedule and nature to explore, and I’m there. But it hasn’t always been easy to experience real, restorative rest, whether on retreat or otherwise. Over the past three years, God has been undoing a lifetime of beliefs that kept me bound to achievement, productivity, and performance at all costs, rest included. For years, I would chase after rest, catching a glimpse here or there, but ultimately feeling more tired than before.

I would work, focus on work, work some more, and sacrifice sleep, day after day. Then, I’d go on a retreat to try to rest. Needless to say, that set me up for repeated disappointment. I had unknowingly trained myself not to rest. I knew enough to go on a retreat, but with no idea how to really rest. I learned the spiritual practices. Meditation, centering prayer, mindfulness practices, I mastered them all, but nothing I did could override my training. My thoughts would often be racing as if I was handling an imminent work project. I nodded along to discussions about winding down, unplugging, and relaxing, but none of those things seemed to “work” long term. I thought this was fairly normal.

2024 is the year things came to a head for me. I went on a weekend-long retreat, but even though the people, the setting, and everything about it couldn’t have been more idyllic, I spent the entire weekend in absolute misery. I walked in with a racing mind and pounding heart, and they would not slow down. Watching the fire in the fireplace, hearing calming music, even sleeping felt restless. For just a few precious seconds on the first full day, I was miraculously able to focus on nature during a walk instead of the storm inside, only to have my attention shift back again. Psalm 23 tells us that the Lord is the One thing that restores our souls, “He restores my soul. . . .” (Psalm 23:3a). When we can’t rest as we were intended to from the Beginning, no practices or tools have the healing power to restore us; we need God Himself for that.

As I wrote about a couple of weeks ago, we are all made in God’s image. God Himself rested after He worked, “And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done” (Genesis 2:2). We too are intended to rest from our work. God, in His loving care, even made the Sabbath, a holy day of rest, for us; “but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy” (Genesis 20:10-11). Our rest is to be modeled after God’s own rest, and not only that, God blesses our rest! When we fail to rest, we can sorely miss out.

Rest is always just on the other side of surrender to Christ. It took months of re-training my thoughts, questioning beliefs, learning to let go, learning to really trust God, and learning not to let assumptions about others’ perceptions dictate my decisions. Slowly, I started to experience real rest again. My soul was being restored as much as I allowed God access to my heart, and that took time. Once surrender to Jesus became a regular practice in my life, rest finally didn’t seem so difficult anymore.

Now I can confidently say that God provides what we need, because I’ve experienced it for myself. There were no answers for me except for God’s ability and power to intervene on my behalf. He provides for us to rest, “so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God” (1 Corinthians 2:5). We don’t have to be afraid to let go of control; God is for us! Whether you struggle to rest like I did or not, we can all trust in God that by His power He is faithful to take care of us. We just need to let Him into our hearts; He is the Restorer of souls. Amen.

“So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his” (Hebrews 4:9-10).

For further reading, see Hebrews 3-4.

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Strength for Work

It seems that the understanding of work is in a paradigm-shifting transition. Jobs are being cut by the thousands, and human “usefulness” in light of technological advances (or mutations) is somehow being questioned. Despite work being misused through history and its ties to human exploitation, Scripture tells us that doing good work (of many kinds) is an important part of our calling on earth as human beings (eg: Genesis 2:15; 3:23, Matthew 28:19, Ephesians 2:10). Work was intended to be a good thing, a God-given mantle of purpose that contributes to our health and the health of the earth.

Work is not meant to be done just for the sake of working, however; our work is meant to be done with a reliance on God’s Presence. Psalm 105 says, “Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!” (Psalm 105:4). The Lord’s Presence provides us with strength to do the work we are called to do. His Presence makes work, and the moment-by-moment experience of our lives, more enjoyably worship-filled and more likely to be a blessing to others.

There was a point in my life when my desire to work seemed to have been stolen. I spent a long time doing the wrong type of work; work that didn’t align with my purpose. Work isn’t bad or evil in and of itself, but it can be used by the enemy to kill, steal, and destroy us and our lives if we aren’t aligned with the work God has for us or open to receive the strength He wants to give us for accomplishing that work. Lacking a desire to work is a sure sign that something is wrong; Proverbs says, “A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich” (Proverbs 10:4). As an aside, being “rich” or wealthy in the context of Proverbs 10:4 means that there was enough to eat, and a place to live securely; not to be misunderstood with a modern Western world reading of the word “rich.” All rooted in the fear of God, and honoring relationship with Him, God gives us vitality and energy (“diligence”) to provide for our material needs. Fearing God gives us the capacity to work. When we fear God, we no longer have any need to fear that our livelihoods will be killed, stolen, or destroyed.

All believers are called to do eternal work. Good, eternal work comes out of genuine faith and earnest obedience to Jesus. It is often work that has glorious implications for the eternal human soul. This work can be in many forms, including speaking Truth in love, showing kindness, worshipping God, and preaching and teaching Scripture. We are promised in Scripture that good, eternal work is rewarded by God (eg: Job 34:11, Psalm 28:4, Jeremiah 31:16).

We are not to rely on our own capacity to accomplish eternal work; we must seek God’s help. “Oh grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man! With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes” (Psalm 60:11-12; Psalm 108:12-13). It is truly amazing how God makes the privilege of eternal work possible and available to us human beings, as we look to Him for help through it all.

Paul is a great example of someone who dedicated himself to doing eternal work. He wrote, “I urge you, then, be imitators of me” (1 Corinthians 4:16). Paul was a tentmaker, and worked an honest trade to support himself and his ministry (Acts 18:3). God empowered Paul to work for his living even during his travels in ministry. Pauls’ faithfulness and humility are to be imitated by us, as characteristics empowered by the Holy Spirit in him, “For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power” (1 Corinthians 4:20). God’s kingdom is eternal. Paul was given amazing power from the Holy Spirit to minister and preach the Gospel in conditions many of us can’t even begin to understand. As we too are given power from the same Holy Spirit, may we have confidence that God will give us the industriousness and vitality to do the good, eternal work God has for us too!

In a discussion of work I feel it is important to state that we are far more valuable than the work that we do, and our core identity is not found in our work; our True identity is in Jesus alone. Work may indeed be part of how we identify ourselves to others in this life, but who we are as living souls has nothing to do with us; it has everything to do with what Jesus did for us. Scripture tells us that we are holy and precious because God’s Spirit dwells in us: “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16).

Work and life seem to have a mysteriously close connection. To stop working often means to stop living. God made us to enjoy relationship and life, and for doing good work. God empowers us to accomplish purposed work that lasts throughout all of eternity in close partnership with Him and His Presence. God Himself is always working, and He longs to work with us! When we do good work, we fulfill our Father’s purpose for us, and it brings more life and blessing.

May we all find the good work God has called us to, worshiping, witnessing, and pointing others to Jesus, and may the work of our hands bless the Lord! Amen.

“Thus says the Lord: ‘Keep your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears, for there is a reward for your work, declares the Lord, and they shall come back from the land of the enemy‘” (Jeremiah 31:16).

“I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being” (Psalm 104:33).

“each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done” (1 Corinthians 3:13).

“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Thank you for spending some of your time journeying with me. If you haven’t yet, please subscribe to Life with the King, and follow the Facebook page; it truly helps me continue writing this blog. Grace and peace.

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Truth and Spiritual Warfare

Do you think it’s a coincidence that as we gear up to take things to a new level, suddenly things start going wrong? Maybe things start getting under our skin, distracting us, or even making us doubt that taking that next step forward is the right thing. This is nothing new. It is a predictable attack, and yet, I for one can still easily fall into thinking the worst about it, that this time might be different and maybe I really do need to be afraid. This is just one common tactic the enemy uses in spiritual warfare against us.

Feeling the effects of these tactics, I’ve questioned both myself and God so many times, “Did I really hear You right, God?” “Am I actually ready for this?” “Why would I be feeling so uncertain if I’m supposed to take this step?” I somehow find it hard to remember the fact that the enemy really, really badly wants anything and everything good in our lives to fail. He wants us discouraged and hopeless, working to kill, steal, and destroy our souls (John 10:10). The enemy is not creative, however. He doesn’t attack in any new ways, he uses the same exact ones (called “schemes” in Ephesians 6:11) relentlessly, over and over again, hoping to separate us mentally and in our hearts from the Truth, and our God-given identity and work. The schemes started with a tactical question he asked Eve that led her to sin in the Garden, “Did God really say [that]?” (paraphrase, Genesis 3:1). I talk about this question in depth in my post called The Serpent’s Question. The devil still asks us the same old question today, just personalized to fit our unique circumstances.

That question has driven people to believe outright lies about God, other people, and themselves, stealing their time, energy, and perhaps much more. But God has made the Truth about Himself known to us very clearly through His Word, and to all people: “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse” (Romans 1:20). We may know God is with us, and trust that He has authority and power over every scheme of the enemy, and yet, we still experience the enemy’s attacks in this fallen world. But, God’s Word warns us of them and prepares us for them. Spiritual warfare is clearly acknowledged in the Bible. God does not leave us defenseless. Ephesians 6 is a well-known chapter on the importance of the armor of God to prepare for such warfare: “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:11-12). No authority is above Jesus, our Authority, and in Him, we are completely and fully protected.

Not only does God care for us by giving us access to the armor of God, but we have Truth to stand on when lies come: the Word of God, Jesus, who IS the Truth itself (John 14:6), and our relationship with Jesus. Whenever lies threaten to kill our spirit, steal our joy, or destroy our hope, because of these gifts of Truth we have the ability to move forward with the purposes of God in the world despite any spiritual attacks that come against us.

That doesn’t mean spiritual warfare is easy, but it does mean that we have hope, despite every effort of the enemy to break us down into hopelessness. Those of us who love Jesus and seek Him out know what God says to us in His Word. We’re listening and attentive in prayer. We know when He speaks to our hearts. We write down and do our best to remember what He has spoken. But sometimes, the warfare of the enemy of our souls finds a weakness, a place where we aren’t believing the Truth about God or ourselves. He can use “cracks” in our armor, like insecurities or fears, to influence the inner dialog we have with ourselves in our hearts. As the father of lies (John 8:44), the enemy is well beyond an expert at attempting to get us to believe lies, and confuse them with the Truth.

So, take heart, friends. While spiritual warfare is nothing new, there are times when the attacks become more intense. It feels to me like now is one of those times. Thankfully Jesus gave us even more to help defend and remind us of Truth, the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:26-27). We are never left alone friends, in Jesus we have reason to have unshakable peace and hope, even while the spiritual attacks come.

May we all stand firm on the Truth, trusting Jesus, and never giving up the hope found in Him. Amen.

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20).

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true” (Revelation 21:4-5).

Thank you for spending some of your time journeying with me. If you haven’t yet, please subscribe to Life with the King, and follow the Facebook page; it truly helps me continue writing this blog. Grace and peace.

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Ordained Peace

The phrase “rest in peace” is commonly used when someone dies, but what does it look like to live every day in God’s peace? His Word says that God offers us His peace even now, while we are very much alive.

Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27). For me, it is often fear that gets in the way of feeling peace. But as we have talked about in this blog before, feelings can be deceiving. In believing and following Jesus, we are given peace, whether we feel it or not. What a comforting truth! I am still learning how, but the key to living in peace is keeping our minds and hearts on the Truth.

It’s when we allow our thoughts to focus on whatever is scary to us that we can become afraid. Fear can (but not always) imply that we’re not trusting God to take care of it, that we’re not believing that God is bigger than our fear and whatever we’re afraid of. Isaiah wrote, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock” (Isaiah 26:3-4). It is our trust in God that anchors us in God’s peace. God promises that when we keep our minds on Him, we are kept in His peace.

So, now that we know that, everything should be just fine to live with a sense of God’s peace all the time, right? Well, I certainly hope that for you, friends, but it hasn’t been quite so easy for me. Life can bring things that are scary to the forefront of my mind. It can be hard to keep my mind “stayed on” God when life gets difficult. But His Word provides Truth and hope in every season, even and perhaps especially in times of lament. When I struggle to keep focused on God, reading Scripture, especially Psalms of lament, can often help to bring my heart to a place of greater peace—reading His Words help me to look at God instead of my fears. When I struggle to focus on God as He tells us to, I try to also remember to simply ask Him to help me. He is faithful to help us obey Him. He is always listening, always for us, and always gracious to give us what we need. That’s who He is (check out the Characteristics of God series for more on that).

God has done everything that we need—Jesus did all the work that was ever and will ever be needed to save us from our sin and death. That includes all the times we don’t obey His will, when we fear instead of trust, when we doubt instead of believe. He has more grace for us. He has provided peace; it is set up for us to have in our lives and our hearts now and always. “O Lord, you will ordain peace for us, for you have indeed done for us all our works” (Isaiah 26:12). This is True, despite whatever life circumstances may come.

May we hold onto the Truth of God-ordained peace, which is divinely appointed for us, forever. Halleluiah!

“He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken” (Isaiah 25:8).

Thank you for spending some of your time journeying with me. If you haven’t yet, please subscribe to Life with the King, and follow the Facebook page; it truly helps me continue writing this blog. Grace and peace.

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God’s Authority and Power

Have you ever been described as someone who “has a problem with authority”? If not, you can probably picture someone like that; a person who doesn’t want to be told what to think, say, or do. For most of us, the sentiment resonates. This world is full of voices, ideologies, and philosophies that confidently, persuasively, skillfully, and sometimes quite subtly, tell us what to do, what to buy, and what to pay attention to. I for one have definitely been frustrated by this and have, in a defiant huff, tried to simply go my own way.

It isn’t possible as human beings for us to avoid coming under the authority of something. Because God created us to be ruled and commanded by Him, it is in our nature to follow and obey. We don’t get to choose whether we are under an authority. We all have the free will authority by God, our Creator, to choose what we follow and bend our lives to. We are always under authority and always being led, a lot like sheep who need a Shepherd. Who or what is it that we are allowing to shepherd us today?

We may live to serve our calling, our work, our community, or our family. We can live to serve man-made ideologies and political perspectives. We can live to serve ourselves, our pride, and selfish indulgence. However, there is a big difference between living to serve God, and living to serve anything else. The first two of the ten commandments warn against idolatry (Deuteronomy 5:7-8). We are not to order our lives around anything before God Himself. Nothing and no one is powerful enough or big enough to handle the weight of our need but God Himself. He knew that, and He calls us to serve Him out of the overflow of energy, focus, and clarity of identity and purpose that comes from our relationship with Him. The sin of idolatry is putting work, people, or ideas in the place of God.

Paul wrote, “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fulness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority” (Colossians 2:8-10). Paul warns not to allow our hearts to come under the authority of anything but Christ, or the lies that run rampant in the world. We must remember that we are filled in Christ, who has authority and power over every thing, including the things that we may be drawn to, or compelled by or taken with in this world.

I learned the hard way that it’s entirely up to us whether we submit to the authority of Jesus or not. God is the only One powerful enough to overcome all of the horror, darkness, and destruction of our own souls that other options eventually lead to. We are commanded not to have other gods and not to idolize anything but God, for our good. His authority is safe. His is the only authority under which we can have True freedom. Ideologies or other things or people in this world may promise freedom, but all lead to a life of believing lies about who we are and how we were created by God.

How do we know we’ve gone wrong? The best test that I know is to look at the fruit of our lives. Do our lives overflow with the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control? For me, if one, some, or all of these is, or are, lacking, that’s a sign to me that it’s time to talk to God about what’s holding me back. It’s time to ask Him where I haven’t feared His authority and power rightly; to ask Him to convict my heart of sin. The sooner we turn to Him in repentance from sin, the sooner we can enjoy His safe, loving authority over our lives.

I spent years thinking I was doing fine, working until 9:00 pm every night, serving work. Agonizing over my performance with dance which was my hobby, serving man’s approval. I thought I was fine neglecting my health, serving my own convenience over stewarding my body well, which is God’s handiwork. Friends, it’s so easy to slip into excuses like, “This is completely normal, everyone does this,” or, “I just am too overwhelmed to think about it right now.”

I now recognize that those are lies and attitudes designed to keep us stuck in bondage; they are not based on what is True. We can know this because the Truth is that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13). The Truth is that “God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7). And the Truth is that “nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:37)! There is nothing that can separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:38-39); there is nothing holding us back from living a life of fruitfulness except coming under the wrong authority.

Jesus is the Truth; He is the only way out of the entanglement of lies. He is the door (John 10:9); there is no other way, friends. Submitting our lives to the ultimate, loving, all-powerful authority of Jesus is the best thing we’ll ever do in our lives. Jesus has shown us the way, may we walk in it (Isaiah 30:21)! May we enjoy fruitfulness, Truth, and life under the all-encompassing authority of Jesus. Amen.

“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20).

“All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him‘” (Luke 10:22).

Thank you for spending some of your time journeying with me. If you haven’t yet, please subscribe to Life with the King, and like & follow the Facebook page; it truly helps me continue writing this blog. Grace and peace.

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Impossible Math

I like to start each new season with a list of a few fun things to see, accomplish, or experience, especially summer. I don’t usually check all of them off, but it helps me to have some specific things in mind to aim for, so I don’t let the season pass me by. Since I’ve quit my traditional job, I wasn’t sure if I should make these lists of goals anymore. How would these kinds of goals be possible? Going anywhere and doing anything costs money and time, and with margins getting tighter, my fun list could become a source of shame, greed, or worse if I’m not careful.

As someone who naturally leans more on the practical side, it’s important for me to remember that God wants us to enjoy our lives, and that He is our provider; not our jobs, work, or efforts. God is everything. If He puts something on our heart to do, we need to listen to that. It comes down to trust in God. I’ve been learning in this season not to trust my own logic and feelings about what’s possible, but to trust that God can do impossible math.

I first heard the term “impossible math” from Dallas Jenkins, when he described how God provided for his work on The Chosen television series. That term has stuck with me for several years. Lately, when I would think about doing one of the things on my fun list, money suddenly became the first obstacle. But something started to change in the way I thought about it. I didn’t get discouraged right away, but instead asked the Lord if this was something I needed to say yes to anyway, even if it seemed impractical. For three of those things I’d written down already this season, God has nudged me forward to accomplish them.

Since I’ve made the choice to forgo a steady income, I’ve been learning how to live without one, how to trust the Lord to provide for my needs. He always does provide in one way or another—God does impossible math. Anxiety is optional; He provides just the same. It’s so much better not to worry and simply trust that He will come through, because no matter what practicality might tell us, the Truth is that He always will! God has been very patient with me as I learn this. I am very slow to trust, and slow to let go of worry and anxiety. God truly loves us and is gracious to us! He never loses patience with us. Amen!

God graciously made a way for me to go on a trip that was on my fun list. God truly did impossible math so that I could go on that trip! I had worried so much beforehand about having enough to cover it. But there was nothing to worry about. I still have such a long way to go in trusting God without worry. I’ve seen God’s impossible math firsthand now, which is something I may not have experienced if I hadn’t left my traditional job. For the trip, the gas cost almost half of what I thought it would be. God provided more income than I thought I would have for the trip. He made it so all the food costs were provided for. Impossible math!

God makes a way, even when it seems there is no way, if it is His will for us to go somewhere or do something that He’s placed on your heart. If that’s the case, don’t let worry or fear get in the way. Trust in the Lord! He does impossible math so that His will may be accomplished on earth as it is in heaven! All it takes is for us to say yes to Him. Friends, what is the Lord leading you to do this summer? Don’t let anything hold you back; wait and watch Him work to make the way!

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:24).

Thank you for spending some of your time journeying with me. If you haven’t yet, please subscribe to Life with the King, and like & follow the Facebook page; it truly helps me continue writing this blog. Grace and peace.

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Sanctification and Fruitfulness

This year, I’ve visited more farms than I can remember visiting in any previous summer. I’ve picked strawberries, peaches, and flowers. I’ve smelled the Maryland tomatoes and cantaloupes piled high in farmer’s market bins. I’ve felt the sun more than I have since I was in middle school. It’s been healing.

Stale, work computer-charged air a distant memory, I’ve been appreciating the delight of abundance this harvest season. The earth’s harvest is very symbolic in Scripture; it has so much to teach us, especially if, like me, you’ve had to adapt to measuring time by email deadlines rather than by the seasons of Creation.

The harvest season comes with a lot of opportunity to connect with God and each other. As summer yields the crop for the year, seeing the abundance of God’s provision has given me a childlike wonder and delight. A single fruit tree bearing incredible quantities of fruit in just one season has been quite a sight to behold on the farm.

I’ve been longing for the ability to make my own life fruitful to live in the beautiful ways Scripture says is possible (eg: John 15:5, Galatians 5:16-25). But I often feel sorely lacking, and in a season not of abundance but of drought. I’ve been reading about and longing for sanctification and frustrated by its slow, and at times painful, progress that takes a long time to yield fruit and a lifetime to be completed. Sanctification is hard to define, but it involves seeing the Truth to the point of no longer being deceived by selfish desires or goals to find fulfillment, and dedication to serving God and doing His will, instead of my own. This is foolishness to the world of email deadlines, profit margins, and fiscal year spreadsheets that I was entangled with for years, and the process of detangling has been a wild one.

Like the wheat and weeds grow up together, people who love Jesus grow here in the world along with everyone else and everything else (Matthew 13:24-30). Followers of Jesus are not to be removed, but to remain in the world and be an influence for good. Jesus prayed for His followers in His high priestly prayer before His arrest, “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it” (John 17:15-16) (NIV). The answer to sanctification is not shutting out all of the entanglements, temptations, and evil and hope that that makes us good enough people. We can’t escape the world, nor does God want us to. What makes us able to be fruitful among it all is utter devotion to and dependence on Jesus and His sanctifying work in our hearts.

Jesus continues His prayer, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified” (John 17:17-19) (NIV). Jesus prayed for our sanctification. Sanctification involves abiding in Jesus. Abiding, like sanctification, is ongoing, not bound by time at all. We all live in the tension of waiting for the fullness of God’s provision and work in us. It isn’t something I can achieve or be rewarded with. It’s something I simply need to allow. Simple, yet, at least for me, incredibly difficult.

It’s worth it though, because sanctification leads to our lives bearing good fruit. As we allow God by the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:16, 1 Corinthians 6:11) to work in and sanctify us, we grow and mature. We are transformed by Him in holiness, or moral purity in our attitudes, thoughts, and actions. I’ve witnessed this change in people, and it’s simply miraculous.

The fruit that comes as a result of sanctification is loving people as God loves us, living with joy, walking in peace, caring with patience, bearing with others in kindness, and so on (Galatians 5:22-23). Sanctification involves our hearts, minds, and spirits coming to a place that no longer gives in to anything that blocks us from abiding in Him. And again, we’re on a lifelong journey to be sanctified. God is faithful to sanctify His people, even though it may feel slow and painful and impossible at times. This season of abundant, fruitful harvest reminds me of this hope for my own life.

There’s nothing we can do to earn sanctification or speed it up or work toward it. The work is allowing and completely depending on God to do the work that is needed in us, and having faith that He is, has been, and will be working. May God help us on the days we resist His work, and may our lives bear fruit as we allow Him to work through us. Amen.

“Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2).

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).

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