I want to finish well, Lord.

I want to die well.

But, before that, I want to live well.

I want to grow in the grace and knowledge of my Savior, Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18) and delight in that!

I want to grow in faithfulness, not just increasing in knowledge without it changing me!

I want to desire more of You and less of me that my joy may be complete, and your glory may be seen! (John 15:11)

I want my sinful selfish desires to decrease as You change my affections to line up with Yours.

I want to decrease in the eyes of others that God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit may increase and be seen through my life and my choices – seen and unseen.

I want to fear You, Lord, and live in such a way that You might say of me in this day and in eternity, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter My rest.”

I want to rest in what is true and not be tossed by the enemy’s lies that I recognize in some areas and have to battle in places where my own temptations must be surrendered and defeated by the power of Christ in me.

I want You to show me those things in my life that hinder a faithful walk with You and others; even those things that may be “permissible but not beneficial” (I Corinthians 10:23) or good and true things that I have made “ultimate things,” and so, idols. Then help me to open my hands and release them with joy!

I want to stand firm, bold and courageous, not seeking the applause of man but the affirmation of my Savior.

I want to honor the very One who endured the wrath of and separation from God the Father that I deserve, who bore the pain of the emotional taunts and the physical pain on my behalf, who gloriously, through His power, was raised to life defeating the death I deserve.

“I want less of me and more of You, Lord.”

“I want to want what You want, Father!”

“I want.”

Though the phrase begins with “I,” these are affirmations of submitting who I am to the Sovereign God of all, of intentionally saying “I am Yours, Lord and desire these things and more because they align what You have made known to us through Your Word!”

I submit my “I wants” to You!

These are affirmations that recognize Your authority in my life to say what is good, right, and true, honoring to You, Lord and, conversely, purposefully saying, “Take out, if need be by force, whatever does not submit to Your reign over me.”

I will never be perfect this side of eternity, but God calls me – HIS child – to PURSUE holiness, righteousness and peace.

He calls me – HIS child – to DELIGHT in Him and the good fruit of a redeemed life rather than returning to those things and those ways which He called me out of and in which I once walked in darkness before He called me into His marvelous light! (I Peter 2:9)

He calls me – HIS child – as He originally called me away from those things that make me disobedient and dishonoring, discontent and fearful, prideful and unsteady, unfaithful and lacking joy and to that pleasure that comes from purposefully reading and letting His Word dwell richly in me (Colossians 3:16) so that in all ways, with a heart of thanks regardless of circumstances, I may reflect Him well – be that where all can see or in the secret places only the Lord sees!

May I and all God’s people never seek to limit His transforming grace, never make light of what He is able to do in us in regards to standing against or fleeing sin, because He who has called us is faithful and He will not call us out of and to anything He, by His Spirit, will not equip us to do and be for the honor of His Name and the strength of His people!

To the glory of His Name and the increase of His Kingdom!

I pray, continuously, for me and those I love that we will increasingly grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ, putting aside childish selfish choices, those affections that make light of His saving grace, desiring Him and what He desires more and more, living in light of His glory and purposes not my own.

Oh, the richness of His Word and how I desire to grow in my hunger to pursue this more and more and that, as He does His good work, it will be evident to those I love and those I encounter for HIS glory alone!

No, never perfect this side of eternity, but I long to delight in and honor Him and pursue what He has called me to pursue and with which, by His mercy and grace, He has equipped me for the race, regardless of its length!

THIS IS JOY!

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His owna glory and excellence. Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, now that you have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

For this very reason, make every effort (by the power of His Spirit in His redeemed children) to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.  For if you possess these qualities and continue to grow in them, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever lacks these traits is nearsighted to the point of blindness, having forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

Therefore, brothers, strive to make your calling and election sure (to be assured of it through the evidence of this fruit). For if you practice these things, you will never stumble…”        (2 Peter 1:3-10)

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”   Psalm 16:11

TO THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORIOUS GRACE!