Refined Daily

What is the difference in your life when you are a true born again Christian?

There are several, and daily sanctification transforms us little by little into the image of our Lord Jesus Christ. In a world that wants what it wants right now, we are different. We are given a new internal nature immediately when we are truly saved, but the outworking of that new nature takes time. It takes patience, it takes yielding to the Holy Spirit, and not to our flesh. It takes perseverance, it takes trust, it takes love, diligence, it takes beating your flesh into submission.

Sanctification, takes deep self examination, you have to real about yourself to yourself, it also takes help from God to know the truth about the depth of sin in your flesh. The more you know God, by studying His Word, the more you understand who you really are and how great a Savior you now have. There are no shortcuts, there are no magic tricks to make this happen quickly or instantly. The more you know God, the more you will be transformed by His miraculous ways, and you will sing praises to Him for being called to be His child. In Him you are no longer condemned in sin and death, you will eternally live in His Presence one day when you are glorified with Him. The joy is unspeakable, the depth of His love is all consuming!

There is however this time of sanctification that happens between our initial salvation and our one day glorification when we go to heaven. That is the race, that is the place where everyday life happens, and we are to be sharpened, to grow in the knowledge of Him, and to walk out this sanctification with the Holy Spirit. Some days it is very exciting and we have large breakthroughs, whether it be internal transformations or leading someone else to Christ, but most days are the ordinary everyday life things.

We need to understand the joy is all things, thanking and praising God for example that you can cook, your body is able, that God has provided the food, and the means to cook it. That may seem everyday and pedestrian, but that is where the deepest and most wonderful praises can be found.

Look at your life, where and when do you see praise for God throughout your everyday routine? Start today and evaluating yourself throughout the day and find time to praise God in all the little things that you are doing each and everyday. Thank God in all things, even the ones you have been taking for granted that you can do, it is a powerful weapon for joy.