Please Be Advised I Am Being Sanctified

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14


I recall the day I answered the call of God on my life back in August 2005, after saying the salvation prayer there was this overwhelming feeling of my burdens being removing from me. Then this little preacher man told me the devil was going to step up his attacks on my life. He went on to describe the devil as being like a jealous lover, who believes if he can’t have you no one will. I was thinking, all man, God how I am suppose to deal with this stuff, you mean the devil is going to keep pursuing me. So while I thought about what my Pastor had said about the devil it did not occupy much of my thought process. I was so overjoyed at what I believed God was going to do with my life the other stuff did not matter.

While I should have listen to my Pastor when he said the devil will step up his attacks on my life I really should have listen in Bible Study class when we talked about the stages of salvation and I should have paid extra attention when we study the sanctification process. According to Bible scholar Tommy Higle sanctification is the process of being made holy or different from the world. Sanctification is a life long process by which we are continual being change from our formal self to be more like Christ.

Now if I had paid attention to any of the above comments shared with me by my Pastor and other Bible study teachers at my church, my lows would not have necessary been as low as they were. For instance, the time I was ready to leave my relationship with my Heavenly Father because of fornication. I sat back in the sound room of my church tell God I can not do this thing. Telling Him this fornication thing was much bigger than me and I could not handle it. I was tired of disappointing God at every turn, so I decide to just walk away. Then God in His awesomeness said fornication may be too big for you to handle but nothing is impossible for me (Luke 1:37). He spoke through my Pastor and encouraged me to continue worshipping Him, continue praying, continue studying His Word and continue to allow Him to transform my life. Knowing that I who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6). I left church that Sunday more determined than ever to stay in the perfect will and presence of my Heavenly Father not really knowing what the journey would be like but reassured God would be with me for the ride.

It has been hard and no I did not change immediately after the situation. I was still having sex and still feeling convicted each and every time I did it. I believed God had the power to change me I just need to give up Ryane’s will and desire to change my self and let my Father do His job. It says in Romans 12:2, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” When I begin to mediate and speak this Word over myself the impulse not to give into my flesh became doable. When I finally gave God this fornication issue and begin to praise Him for my deliverance is when I was able to stand against those attacks.

So come this January I will not only be celebration with my President Elect Barack Obama I will also be celebrating one year of celibacy. All glory and honor do to my Father who has once again saved me from myself. Has this thing been easy, no, but like the Apostle Paul said in Romans 7: 21, “When I want to do good, evil is right there with me.” But can I tell you all who is also right there with me, who never leaves me, who King David said in the Psalm 27: 10, “Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.” If any child of God should know something about the Father not forsaking you is King David that is why he later in Psalm 46:1 said, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” So now when those urges come I do what the Donald Lawrence song says, I encourage myself in the Lord. I begin to speak a Word of myself.

So as I continue on my path of sanctification this is what I know, I still have issues God needs to work out. I still get down for time to time when things do not work out the way I want them too. It’s then I have to reminder myself of what God said to the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 55:8, “"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.” My issues maybe and the situations in my life maybe but the God I serve much greater than any situations I am facing.

I must admit the sanctification process is not a walk in the park, this journey gets a little rough but I stand as a witness if you trust God it will all work out for your good. I like what was said to the Prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 40:30-31, “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” I may get a little tired sometimes but my God will give me enough energy to make it. I may stumble and fall but my God will pick me up, dust me off and set me back on course. Thank you God!!!!

So I have come to the conclusion no matter what as I go through this sanctification process I am going to keep my eyes to the hills for which my help comes, knowing my help comes from the Lord (Psalm 121:1-2). I try everyday to live a life to the glory of God knowing He is in full control. I like the way the Apostle Paul put it in Philippians 3:12-14, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

I encourage you to continue in the faith continue to seek Him even in the midst of your storms because God is faithful.

Please forgive any grammatical errors my editor is home with her new baby boy Brandon.