Sin is not an easy nor a fun topic to talk about. But sin is real and sin is destructive, and when it’s left in the dark it has the power to separate you from God.
But as women who desire to radiate authentic beauty and live with radiant grace, it requires an unearthing of the soul in order to locate and remove the sin that is imbedded in our lives. If we avoid such excavation it will result in our hearts becoming hard, blinding us form the beauty that is found in Christ Jesus. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’
The translation of the word holy means to be set apart or marked as different. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. This is not an easy task, but with the right equipment and perspective, the job set before us which seem impossible will become possible when our mind and heart are aligned with the Word of God. Equipping ourselves with Truth will give us the staying power and perspective we need to do the hard work. When we bend our knee and open ourselves up to God, He will come in and create in us a clean and pure heart.
Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. Knowing and believing God is the foundation for which we are to build our lives, it is imperative that we do not neglect the work of the Holy Spirit who wants to aid us in the excavation of our sin.
Excavating truth #1 – Cultivate a heart fixed on God
The effort it takes to stir up the soil of our heart for the purpose of God to excavate out the rocks and boulders of sin requires a staying power. Often when work becomes hard and we become weary from the labor our hearts are prone to wander and we stray from the God we love. Cultivating a heart for anything takes time and discipline and cultivating a heart for God is no different. Being “ALL IN” is to be devoted, committed, and undivided in your pursuit and passion for being set a part and marked for Jesus. The way you spend your time, the space you make in your schedule, the company you keep, the activities you engage, the focus you give to knowing your Savior will all reflect in your devotion and desire to being steadfast in the Lord.
Excavating truth #2 – Ask the Father for help
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!
The greatest danger we have to ourselves is when we are unaware of our sin. I call these blind spots. It’s that area in your life you don’t see because it’s hidden or blocked by something else. Spiritual victory occurs when we ask the Holy Spirit to search our hearts and reveal in us any and all potential dangers, hazards or obvious sin we have been blinded by. Sin is deceitful and it hides itself in many ways. Sin is often hidden in our anger, bitterness, jealousy, unkind words, thoughts, criticism, selfishness, pride, impatience, unforgiveness, worry, doubt, and immoral behavior. Whether they are blind spots or unremoved rocks of sin in our life, both are devastating to our growth and flourishing as women of God.
Excavating truth #3 – Immerse yourself in the Word of God
Sadly, when life gets full one of the first things to go by the way side is our personal time in God’s Word. Hidden sin is not going to reveal itself if we don’t take action. When the Word of God is entrenched deeply in our heart it will reveal our blind spots and strengthen resolve to remove the rocks that are dangerous to our life and relationship with Jesus Christ.
Excavating truth #4 – Learn to interface with the Father on a daily basis
Just because this is last it doesn’t mean it’s least in importance. Prayer is what enables us to have an intimate exchange with the One who knows us more deeply than we know ourselves. Prayer has endless benefits and one of those benefits is that it gives us a clear look at the character of our own heart and awakens the hatred we ought to have towards our sin.
He who pleads with God for the remission of sin also pleads with his own heart to detest it.” – John Owen
Prayer is the honest place where we can truly confess our sins and be forgiven. True confession of sin is when we lay our heart bare before the Father and say, show me all my sin, reveal it all to me. Uncover every little pebble in my heart and clear away all the rocks that are hidden. Show me so that it may be as detestable to me as it is to you, and grant me the strength to work at taking it way. When was the last time you prayed like this?
To live a life that has been shaped by the excavating Truth of God’s Word is to live a life set apart from sin. Remember, to be “set apart” is to be holy and to be holy is to be marked as different from others around you. Being different is not easy, it’s not always fun and it’s definitely not always popular. To be marked by a quality that is different from the world, is to be marked with a holiness that comes from spending time with Jesus!
Walk on my friend, you are His beloved!
Live with Intention,
Gretchen