Thankful for?!!

I have noticed that when it comes to counting my blessings, the ones connected to my sanctification are not generally on my radar. But in spite of how difficult some of these can be, I really am so grateful.

Here’s just a few to make us more aware.

Conviction – Without seeing I would not confess or repent. Without that my relationship with God and others would be damaged and I wouldn’t know why. I would not be transforming and reaching for all God had for me.

Waiting – When it comes to sanctification we are not waiting for what we get but what we become. God is using the wait to change us. Waiting is a sign that you are under the control of intervening grace. (This insight from Do You Believe by Paul David Tripp – can’t recommend highly enough.)

God is doing important things in the wait, often things we would not dare to think or imagine.

After seeing those two things, my pastor says that we should gratefully pray for our difficult people. They are also made in God’s image and He loves them. But also, He is often using them to help us see what we need to see about ourselves.

Dependence and those things that help us realize it – Independence and control are false goals and false gods. We can give up (let go of) the exhaustive work of trying to be what we were never made to be – independent. When we need someone the fruit of the Spirit flows through us in humility. It’s a blow to our pride and stubbornness. When someone depends on us the fruit of the Spirit can flow through us in helping and loving self-denial. In both ways Jesus is displayed.

Suffering – because God is working in our pain in ways that we can’t fully comprehend. But He didn’t even spare His Son suffering because of all He was working through it. And His Son submitted to it for the same reasons. There really is unimaginable love involved in it and unimaginable glory.

Give thanks!