Thursday, January 19th

“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through.  May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.”  1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

Dear Father, You speak so often and so clearly about living a blameless life in this world.  You speak to me without riddles and tell me to do even more than I am already doing, to work even harder, to live more purely, to love even more.  You call me to love my fellow person and even more so my fellow believer.  You tell me of your coming and you will come like a thief in the night.  Many will be caught by your thief-like coming as in a trap.  Keep me from this, O Spirit.  Keep me from pride and arrogance.  Keep me from falling.  Keep me diligent in the faith and in my living that I might live my whole life in the light and not in dark.  And most of all, O Father, keep me.  I cannot do this.  I do not do this as I ought.  Sanctify me thoroughly.  Wash my sins away and resurrect in me a clean and a new heart that seeks you only.  Make and keep me blameless in body and soul when your Son, Jesus, returns.  Father, my hope and confidence is in you.  I cannot do it.  You have and you must.  Save me!  I am yours.  Amen.

Our confidence throughout life is not because we have kept close to God, but because God has kept us close. 

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