A Life Of Holiness; Prepare For Action!

June 5, 2025

A Life Of Holiness; Prepare For Action!

I don’t place a high value on being like everyone else.  Even though it has not always been easy, I have tried to find my own way, be my own person, and dream my own dreams.

Following the crowd does not have much appeal to me.  Being part of the “in” group does not motivate me all that much.  Being friends with the people who possess power does not interest me a great deal. 

+I am willing to be different and distinct if that means I am following Jesus.

+I am willing to have a few less friends and a few less opportunities if that means I am chasing after God’s dream for me.

+I am willing to feel a bit separated and disconnected from what is popular today if that means I am seeking a deeper relationship with Jesus.     

I choose to follow and love Jesus.  I seek the Holy Spirit’s direction, the Father’s counsel, and Jesus’ desire for my life.  Sometimes that has meant I have a few less friends.  Sometimes that has meant I am not understood.  Always it means that I have been set apart for more of Jesus in my life, more of God’s purpose for my life, and more focus on living a life of holiness.

The Bible teaches us that to be holy means to be set apart.  Additionally, to be holy means to be dedicated to the Lord, obedient to the Lord, and engaged in a growing relationship with the Lord.  Living a life of holiness will cause us to be set apart in a way that honors God but is not always understood by those who are not seeking to live a life of holiness.

The Apostle Peter encouraged people to live a life of holiness…a set apart life that the world does not always understand.  In I Peter 1:13-16 the Apostle Peter writes;“Therefore prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed.  Like obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires that you formerly had in ignorance.  Instead, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct, for it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’”

Peter says the first step to living a life of holiness is to “…prepare your minds for action…”  In other words, get ready to do something.  A life of holiness is about how we live our life; it’s about our conduct, our behavior, our actions!  A life of holiness is about changing what we think is most important.  What is most important is Jesus is Lord above all! 

We are called to live a life that draws us closer and closer to the heart of Jesus and sets us apart from the world’s values and ways as well as from our own sin and brokenness.  In Romans 12:2 the Apostle Paul writes; “Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Paul says we are transformed, we are renewed, we are made holy by the renewing of our minds.  Peter says that to be made holy begins with preparing our minds.  A life of holiness begins with a change of mind, a renewing of our mind, a preparing of our mind.

+If you are feeling stuck in your life, it may be time to change the way you are thinking.

+If you are feeling like your relationship with Jesus is drifting, it may be time to start thinking about things in a different way.

+If you are feeling like your life has lost its focus, lost its purpose, or lost its passion, it may be time to begin seeing and understand life and faith in a new way.

When we continue to think in the same way or focus our mind on the same things, very little changes.  The Holy Spirit does not have the opportunity to lead us or grow us or heal us.  At some point, Jesus cannot draw you any closer to His heart until you prepare and renew your mind for something more, something new, something different.

I wonder if today your mind might be more focused on what other people expect or think of you.  I wonder if your mind is so focused on what Jesus has done that you are unable to consider what Jesus wants to do next.  I wonder if your mind is so committed to a particular pattern of thinking that it is difficult to imagine Jesus is seeing you and your next step in a different way.

If you want to take living a life of holiness with Jesus to the next level, I encourage you to take some time to ask;

“How is the way I am thinking about things or people or Jesus getting in the way of really living a life of holiness?”

Prepare your mind to live a life of holiness by inviting the Holy Spirit to renew your mind.  Maybe it is time to take action!  When you do, the Holy Spirit will fill your heart and your life with more and more delight in the Lord.

Take Delight In The Lord!

Doug