*Our Sure Confidence *
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6)
Father,
It’s a good thing that you’re the one who will bring me to completion in Christ, because if it were up to me, I would totally ruin the job. If becoming like Jesus was dependent on my abilities and spiritual strength, there is zero chance it would happen.
Thankfully, you’ve promised to continue your mighty, unstoppable, holy juggernaut work in me. The mighty, living, resurrected Christ lives in me. The Holy Spirit empowers me. You’ve called me to holiness, and then equipped me with all I need to be holy. You haven’t left me to my own, frail, fragile devices, but have promised to continue shaping and molding me into the image of Christ Jesus. You haven’t told me to buckle down, suck it up, and pull myself up by my bootstraps. I can’t complete this magnificent work on my own. No way, no how. But, I am confident that you will bring it to completion. You chose me, called me, saved me, and will finish the work you began in me. Unlike me, you always finish what you start.
It was your mighty work that rescued me from the clutches of sin and Satan. I was hopeless and helpless, ruined and wrecked, dead in my sin and transgressions, unable to lift myself out of my spiritual grave. But you lifted me out. You kindled spiritual ire in my cold heart. I was a slave to sin, so trapped that I couldn’t even desire what was good. You shattered the chains of sin that enslaved me, you breathed life into me, and you began producing good fruit in me. After doing all that, you most certainly won’t abandon me now! I thank you that your mighty power will continue working in me, shaping me, chiseling me, and molding me into the image of Christ.
Holy Spirit, have full access to every area of my life. Shine your blazing, healing, holy light into every corner of my heart. Bring conviction, correction, discipline, straightening. Convict me of sins of commission and sins of omission. Spark new, white hot desires for holiness and righteousness. Create fresh passion for your word, prayer, and fellowship with other believers. Do whatever you need to do to make me more like Jesus. Break me, heal me, rearrange me, shape me, prune me. By the end of this year, I want to see measurable progress in areas of holiness. I want to look back on this year and celebrate your divine victories in my life.
I know that the more holy I am, the more happy I will be. The more I’m like Jesus, the more joyful I’ll be. My happiness and holiness are inextricably linked. Thank you that you are committed to my holiness and happiness in Christ.