Skip to main content

Sanctify Yourselves

Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you (KJV). 


The word "sanctify" has several meanings. Objects can be sanctified but to sanctify a person is to make him or her holy. Sanctification is a state of being separated unto God. 1 Corinthians 1:30 references the sanctification that occurs when one is born again. In this sense sanctification is more about the work of God in our lives.


The second definition of the word is probably most fitting for what Joshua directed. This sanctification is the result of our obedience to the word of God and is to be actively pursued by believers.


I feel a strong pull to enter into a season of sanctification, and believe this season will bring forth some long awaited promises.  In particular, I feel an urgency to cleanse myself of fears; more specifically, fears that may be disguised. 


Some fears masquerade as something more like anger or resistance.  These fears take the work of Holy Spirit to uncover. 


Maybe it's a fear of correction because you have felt judged. Or a fear of religion because someone in the church tried to control you. Perhaps it's a fear of the bible because you don't understand it. 


The Lord gently revealed I was afraid of prophetic mishandling. I have experienced and witnessed prophetic discipline without hope, grace, or love. 


Once a prophetic friend shared with me that she was stepping away to be purified because she was drawing from bitter waters. She was mature enough to know that her prophetic anointing was in danger of doing more harm than good. Not everyone is this self-aware.


What's more is that sometimes abusive language is glorified. I've heard prophets proudly proclaim, "Go ahead and get your tissues out because this is going to hurt." Or make statements like, "I can't help what God gave me to say." 


I do understand that part of the role of the prophets is to comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comforted. But some only do the latter and with an air of haughtiness. 


Usually what is referenced in these environments is the severity of the prophets in the old testament.  I don't deny that the world was a violent place and prophets had to use equally severe tactics. 


Perhaps a post on social media can help: rejection comes from correction without affection, 

misdirection comes from affection without correction, 

and protection comes from correction with affection. 


As much as it pains me to say it, I have seen the prophetic leave more people in a state of rejection rather than protection. 


The big difference between gentle correction and harsh correction lies in whether or not the Lord is your Shepard. To those in outright rebellion, correction is always going to feel brutal.


God wants to heal hidden fears so the walls of self-protection can be replaced with His protection.  The Good Father's protection, correction, and affection is balanced and loving.


As we focus on sanctification let us take comfort in the last meaning of sanctification. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 speaks of a complete sanctification that is glorification. 


He is our hope of glory.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Revisting: If I Were a Bird & The Season of the Ox

Today I'm revisting two posts from June of this year. My regular devotional reading has me back in Ezekiel and back to the four living creatures. With the Hebrew calendar ending in September, today was the first day I asked the Lord for my word for this upcoming Hebrew year. All things considered, I felt it necessary to revist these posts. Now, I know of at least one dream that was not from the Lord. I'm not sure I am done learning about the ox, but I've learned a little.  If I were a Bird Recently I had three separate people, in three distinct settings begin a thought with, "If I were a bird."  Bizarre, right? At the first comment, I began to joyfully hear Nelly Furtado's "I'm Like a Bird" song in my head. By the third comment, in a matter of just forty-eight hours, I was curious. I could not recall ever hearing anyone share such a thought before, and then to have a few in a short matter of time had me wondering. Seemed either an odd coincidence...

Revisting: Never Ignore

Today, we are revisting a post from July 13, 2023. One thing we can count on is changing emotions. One day we deal with intense anger, the next extreme apathy. Our emotions may not be wise, but they are telling. Never Ignore I came cruising into my day refreshed and ready to go. Then, I experienced anger. Someone's misinformation inconvenienced my easy, breezy day.  Anger is one of those emotions I find less becoming than others. I was trying to calm myself down when Holy Spirit reminded me that I was not designed to reconcile my emotions on my own. In the past, I have fallen prey to ignoring and stuffing my emotions, but nowadays, I am more likely to try and reconcile my emotions on my own. Perhaps when I have "figured out" what needs to change, I then might go to God to request said changes. Today, I managed to be reminded that God likes us to come to Him raw. In the heat of anger or depths of despair, He wants to be invited into what we are feeling, thinking, and exper...

Revisiting: A Spoon Full of Sugar & Mom

A recent visit from my family has reminded me of a truth. Most children end up marrying a version of their primary caregiver. Below is a poem I wrote reflecting this fact, as well as a blog post from May 14, 2023. <My Spoon Full of Sugar> I married Mary Poppins. It is true.  No surprise for Mary is my mother too. They sing in the morning and like things tidy and clean. No time for nonsense or excuses, only good behavior will do. They are stern, responsible and  sensible…  a little vain and irritable too. They never explain anything but are diligent caretakers  paying  their  due. Yet he is my spoonful of sugar helping the medicine of life  go down. He loves with delicately balanced   quesadillas and grilled cheese. She loved with neatly cut and arrayed platters of fruits and veggies. He is “practically perfect in every way,”  or so they say. Attractive, enthusiastic, and well dressed, busy but playful. They cook and clean, work and...