Sanctification, Growing Older....

I've recently finished reading chapter 9 of Adorned by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth. It is an excellent chapter about purity. Purity is a lost adjective in today's vernacular, at least among the worldly Christians and secular society. I've been thinking about how becoming more sanctified naturally lends itself to becoming more pure, more holy. Qualities such as these cannot be hidden; they are what a person, a woman, embodies. It is who she is. One wouldn't tell an off-color joke around her because it is understood she wouldn't appreciate the humor and would probably be offended. Because this sort of woman is polite and gracious, she likely wouldn't say anything in the midst of an uncomfortable, inappropriate exchange (assuming the Lord's name or character weren't being put in question), but she would excuse herself from continuing with the banter. May we all strive to be women who others naturally do not want to offend. When people apologize for swearing around us or curb their drinking around us, let us hope it is because they respect our positions quietly as we have quietly demonstrated our own. 

Quiet demonstrations lead to the topic this post is about, which is sanctification and how obvious it is. And how obvious it isn't. 

When someone claims to be a Christian, but shows no growth in Christlikeness, there is a lack of sanctification happening. This is a cause for concern. Reading and hearing Scripture should engage the mind and will of a follower of Jesus Christ. We should be challenged to change when we see our way of living doesn't align with God's way. Our service in church should increase the longer we're in Christ because we know our serving others is how we serve Him, using the gifts He's given us for that very purpose. Sanctification is a life-long element of a Christian's existence. This leads to the second point of this post and that is growing older. One of the many benefits of growing older is the number of years to observe life. Our own life and the lives of those around us. Time tells us all we need to know about where someone is in their walk with Christ. What is claimed to be believed will be shown or not shown over time. 

Birds of a feather flock together as the old saying goes. Who do you flock with? Who is in my flock? We will know Christians by their love and surely we know much about them by who they spend time with. Pay attention to who you spend time with. What influences you? Who are your close friends? 

We serve a powerful and good God who is interested in the sanctification of His children. He is actively available to help us not look like we looked last year, the year before that, the year before that and so on. ♥

When Plans Go Differently

You know when you are planning something and you have this vision of what it will look like? It could be something big like an outdoor wedding or a large funeral you are orchestrating. But it could also be just a small dinner with friends or a quick getaway. Regardless, there is either a general or very specific idea of what "it" is going to look like, and then for whatever reason, before said event, it becomes clear that things are going to go in a pretty different direction than you'd thought. It might be weeks before the event or moments prior that you have to change gears. There is rain when you counted on sun, there are people you thought would be attending that back out, or people end up bringing guests they weren't expecting themselves, or the caterers cancelled and there had to be a last-minute audible. 

What do you do in these situations? 

How do you act and feel? 

For events where weather is a true impacting force, it is best to not have your heart set on it being any one way. Make sure your backup plan is satisfactory and decide beforehand to accept whatever comes your way. Weather can be unpredictable so plan accordingly--that is, plan to be flexible!

When it is an event that involves other people, commit the event to the Lord and trust Him to bring who He wants to be there. Sometimes the keynote speaker has to miss, there is an unavoidable delay, or what one person wants differs from what you want. We have a choice to go with the flow or be uptight. Going with the flow is much easier. Plan as best you can, but if it gets all wacky, all you can do is roll with it. That is a good way to show grace to other people and a way to demonstrate the relationships are more important than our own perceived needs. 

Slander and Pride in Prayer Requests

Most women are familiar with gossip being a potential pitfall when sharing a prayer need. Too often the "need" for prayer becomes a bash session or a town council style opinion meeting if it isn't carefully shared. This isn't new information for those who desire to avoid gossip. 

There is another issue that I think we sometimes miss in prayer request time that has had me thinking though. It is the issue of slander: speaking against someone in a way that harms their reputation or negatively shapes the opinion of others. It can happen before we know it, and it can be one of those things we didn't intend. Slander can be factual or false, and it can flow out of a lack of humility and pride, but also lack of foresight. Too often if something is true we think it is ok to openly share. (True as in absolutely true, or true in our own minds and opinion.)

The truth is,  however,  whether something is factual or not, it isn't always helpful or appropriate to share. We should be able to see what is our own opinion of a situation and "our truth" for what it is--possibly clouded and mistaken, especially within the confines of a serious relationship problem. 

Before sharing a prayer need about a problem we have with another person, we should ask ourselves what exactly are we saying about the other individual? Are we saying they are a thief, a liar, an adulterer, deceived, malicious, that they have an anger issue, or something else? Is the problem absolutely one-sided (like a person has a clear substance abuse issue or is in a cult) or is there a chance both parties are at fault to varying degrees? We should always ask for our own hearts to be changed in situations with subjectivity. 

We don't want people coming away from our prayer request thinking poorly of someone else if it can be helped. I realize there are times this is unavoidable. In such cases, prudence is advised. Instead of sharing in a group setting, ask a trusted friend or two to pray (if details are required that will shed negative light on someone else). Regardless, whenever we have a problem with another person to the degree that it leads us to seek the support of others, our attitude should be that we are willing to see the situation differently if God sees it differently. There should be a measure of humility, our love for the other person should be clear, and our desire for reconciliation over being right should be obvious. If we aren't there yet when we share the need, it is important we're open to advice on the matter and do not approach it like we have it all figured out.

In closing, let's consider being vague in prayer needs so we respect the reputation of others, and being sure to communicate our own willingness to change our perspective. There is usually something we can improve upon in any problem situation. 

To God be the glory

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