Sanctification is a process that requires us to deny our flesh. Obedience to the LORD often comes at the cost of ignoring our own plans and desires. Taking up our cross daily requires sacrifices that we sometimes don't want to make. Living for Christ doesn’t come naturally — it’s a supernatural experience that requires the Holy Spirit’s help. 

The process of living for Christ and like Christ starts with becoming a new creation. We’re given new hearts, new desires, some even given new names! With this comes a new love. This love is hard to explain to those who are far from God. It’s a love so deep and true, so tangible yet somehow still invisible to the eye. The love Jesus has for us penetrates through every rotten thing life has thrown at us, and shines a light on a new kingdom. A new eternity to live for. Once this pure love enters our life, our desires for this world must fade. 

No longer can we love going out with the same crowd, wasting two nights a week away at a bar chasing counterfeit remedies to our problems. No longer can we love to gossip about those people who’s sin came to light. No longer can we love money and use it to guide our life. No longer can we love evil. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we have new loves. We love Jesus, we love his church. We love the word of God. We love prayer, and time with the Father. We love obedience and sacrificing our own desires. Through the Spirit, we can give up our bodies as living sacrifices for God because we love Him that much! 

While it’s not easy, it’s still accomplished joyfully because we know the eternal impact it has for us and those around us. Our new heart full of new love longs for the will of the Father to be completed, and when we give in to that and not our flesh, the Spirit is immediately there to provide the strength. Ask Him today to reveal to you any areas that need a supernatural renewal — ask Him to fill it with new love.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the precious promises described in Your word and highlighted today. I confess that I do not have the fullness of all those promises in my life. I do not always love Jesus and his people. I am not always hungry and thirsty for Your Word. I do not always love prayer and worship and time with You. I do not always desire obedience. Lord God, show me the path to a more complete healing and closer walk with You so these precious promises can be fully evident in my life. Prune me and pull out the worldly weeds from my life that would choke Your Word or the fruit of Your Holy Spirit.

 In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

When you are focused on worldly desires, the anointing of the Holy Spirit diminishes. We do not need less of the anointing, we need more! Think of something that you want in this world that is important to you. Pray now and share this desire with Jesus and submit it to him. Trust him to provide what will be good for you in its proper time.