God's Perfect Process - Encouragement Café - January 22, 2016

God’s Perfect Process, Sanctification Isn’t an Overnight Sensation

Café Menu for Friday, January 22, 2016

Today’s Special is:  Sanctification Isn’t an Overnight Sensation

Carefully prepared just for you by your friend, Carolyn Dale Newell

Main Ingredient:

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Romans 12:2 NKJV

Entrée:

Are you feeling guilty about broken New Year’s resolutions?  The diet that didn’t last or the exercise program that never started?  Sometimes we feel the same way about our spiritual walk.

Do you get frustrated about missing your quiet time with God?  Do you wonder why your friend’s faith seems stronger than yours?  Perhaps you struggle with temptations, never feeling victorious over them.

Friend, you are not alone, but don’t beat yourself up!  We all deal with this.

Transformation is a slow process.  

It is true that at salvation there are obvious changes, but the comparison to the caterpillar and butterfly is not accurate.  I remember a song about this metamorphosis, comparing it to salvation.  The only problem is that once the butterfly develops, it never changes again.  This is not so with the perfect sanctifying work of God in Christians.

Our minds are continually being renewed.  Where I am today is an improvement over where I was last year.  Spiritual transformation doesn’t occur in leaps and bounds, but in small steps moving forward.  There are struggles, and sometimes, we fail.  We still battle with our flesh and an enemy, who is constantly setting up roadblocks.

Christian, we are not alone as we proceed in our walk with God.  We have the Holy Spirit living in us, guiding us.  God didn’t just save us and then wish us the best of luck.  He is with us on this journey, helping us conform to Christ and not the world.

While I cannot help you with your diet or exercise plans, I can tell you that spiritually, you’re going to make it.  Spiritual transformation is not a sprint, but a slow steady jog.  Keep your eye on the goal and continue to move forward.

Take Out:

Ask God to help you in the specific areas where you feel you are struggling.  Sometimes we need a plan or a goal to help us with issues such as our quiet time or temptation.  If that is the case, make plans, set goals, and stick to them.

Dessert:

Heavenly Father, sometimes I see growth, but sometimes I see setbacks.  I want to continually move forward in becoming more like Christ-like.  Accomplish this in me.  Show me my part in this process.  Thank You, Amen.

Click here to receive a free download of Carolyn’s devotional eBook, “In The Storm”. 

For more encouragement, visit Carolyn at amountainoffaith.wordpress.com. 

© 2016 by Carolyn Dale Newell.  All rights reserved.

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