May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together—spirit, soul and body—and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ.

I Thessalonians 5:23 (MSG)

The demands and distractions of life can quickly dull our spirit. Just by missing a few Sundays of fellowship and worship, too much focus on daily demands and the ordinary pressures of life can lead us quickly down the path to mediocrity.

Our prayer lists turn into “quick begs” to God as we pray for own needs to be met instead of true communication and praise.

 I know it only takes a few days of keeping my Bible closed to lose that spring in my step.

I encourage you to start making a list of the choices which cause “detours” in your journey to sanctification.

Sounds like a church term? Just pray and learn to walk with Jesus as your friend and let him teach you how to be like Him step by step. That is how the disciples became disciples. They gradually learned what it means to pick up their cross, deny themselves, and walk the roads with Jesus. (Luke 9:23)

 To remain “all in all of the time” is hard but true freedom comes from “living all in.”

 Here is advice from the Minister of Women in my church:

 Make a “Stop and Start List” each year.

Divide a page down the middle, then on one side list all of the things you should stop doing and the other side, list of the things you should start doing!

This process could help getting you back on track with prayer.

Dear Jesus, help me to live in your presence every day. Walk with me on my road to sanctification. I know I’ll never be just right until Heaven, but when I feel discouraged and depleted of energy please comfort me. Help me be encouraged that Your Spirit is inside my mind, heart, muscles, and even my bone marrow! I’m all in with you, LORD.

 Jill Hendrix