Dear Sisters,

As we approach the end of another year God has given us, I am reminded of how fast time goes by, and with it, so many opportunities and changes. Yet one thing never changes—and that is our great, loving God! It is so important that as we walk through life’s trials and blessings, we do so with this bigger perspective— through the lens of God and His sovereignty over all things.

When we zoom out of the snapshot of life today, and see our Lord—glorious and lifted up, mighty and sovereign, good and gracious—and reflect on His purposes for our lives, it’s life-changing. Ponder this passage in Isaiah 40:

“Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him: behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him… Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?

Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or being His counsellor hath taught Him? With whom took He counsel, and who instructed Him, and taught Him in the path of judgment, and taught Him knowledge, and shewed to Him the way of understanding?

Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, He taketh up the isles as a very little thing… All nations before Him are as nothing; and they are counted to Him less than nothing, and vanity.

To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto Him?… Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?

It is He that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in: … To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.”

This is our Maker, and He is the One we serve!

We are called to live a life that glorifies and exalts Him…and not only that, but also to share in HIS glory:

“…God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
Whereunto He called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.“
(II Thessalonians 2:13-14)

What does it mean that God has called us through the Gospel to the obtaining of Christ’s glory? I recently heard a helpful analogy: we all have people we admire. When we admire someone, we tend to want to get close to them, imitate them, be associated with them, and try to share in their popularity and identity. We want some of their “glory” to rub off on us.

The truth is, we are striving after glory; this is how we were created! What’s important is that we are seeking glory in the right place: God. It boggles my mind that our loving God invites us to share in that glory of His precious holy Son…and that today, on this earth, He has given us the high and noble calling to bring Him more glory.

 

“The glory of God is the only thing that truly matters in life because God alone is eternal, infinite, and immutable. Only God is infinite value. God’s glory is the sum of all that God is. It is the radiance, majesty, beauty, and splendor that shine forth from His unchangeable and eternal essence. Nothing lacking, nothing missing, nothing missing. Full and complete satisfaction. This is the glory of God. And this is the only glory that can satisfy us. We are miserable not because we aspire after glory but because we aspire after glory in the wrong things. We don’t aim high enough.”
~Jeffrey Johnson, The Pursuit of Glory

This is so important, sisters, for us to gain sight of. As Christians, we know that there is so much more to life than the temporal things we see and experience! We have so much more to look forward to and obtain!

Do we really realize how short life is? This summer, I walked through Arlington cemetery, reading grave markers. Thousands of lives laid to rest…it was overwhelming to even try to comprehend. I came across a fresh marker of a woman who lived 105 years. Even that long lifespan was now past…marked by a stone. It made me ponder the brevity of life and step back and wonder how I might view life differently if I were 80, 90, or even 100 years old. Would I have a more eternal focus? Would I value different things? Would I make more eternally based decisions? Would I view myself differently—with less emphasis on the externals and more on Christ…Who He is…and who I am in Him?

Sadly, I daresay the answer would be yes for many of us! We must be reminded of the greater calling and purpose we have in this life, so that we do not become focused on the here and now.

In Ephesians 4:1-3 the apostle exhorts us,

“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

This is our high calling in Christ…and we are called to walk worthy of it. Let’s ask ourselves some questions…

• Do I want to share in the glory of Christ? Do I want to be known as a Jesus-follower? Or do I seek after the glory of something else?
• Am I slightly embarrassed in some contexts to be known as a sharer in His suffering and glory?
• Do I delight in the things of the Lord more than anything else?
• Is Jesus my very identity? Is He the most IMPORTANT thing about my life?

I encourage you to meditate on these passages pertaining to the glory we are called into in Christ:

• Romans 9:23
• 1 Corinthians 2:7
• 1 Corinthians 10:31
• 2 Corinthians 3:18
• 2 Corinthians 4:17-18
• 1 Thessalonians 2:12
• Hebrews 13:20-21
• 1 Peter 1:24-25
• Revelation 4:11

I’d like to encourage us to evaluate whose glory are we living for. Where are our eyes focused?

As we more consumed by our culture, fitting in with our peers, pleasing those we admire, being associated with them—or living for the pleasure of Jesus? Do we base our standards and choices according to what will reflect Jesus and magnify Him (make Him look bigger) on earth…or what is popular, what will make others like us, and what will promote SELF?

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
(I Corinthians 6:19-20)

It is exciting to truly understand and believe that our purpose here on earth is SO BIG—as big as God is! It absolutely permeates the way we think, act, talk; the way we live, walk, and love others… because it’s all for Someone GREATER and something bigger than the here and now!

As Augustine so truly said, “For Thou has made us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless until they find rest in Thee.”

We were made for Jesus—and nothing else can satisfy our hearts or give us purpose! True worth and value and purpose comes in living for Jesus. Not in being liked, accomplished, married, productive, beautiful, or happy. It’s found in walking in obedience to our calling in Christ, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God (Colossians 1:10).

This perspective transforms our entire lives—everything from cleaning the bathroom with joy, serving the unlovely through His love, denying and pouring out self for the sake of others…knowing that God is worthy and that He is using these things to bring Himself more glory through this very body of flesh!

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
(Romans 12:1)

Nothing you or I do for Christ, no matter how small or unimportant it might feel, is unworthy of this calling. We serve the Lord Jesus Christ, Who calls us to a life of meek and lowly service to the least of these.

“And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
(Matthew 25:40)

Sisters, this life is but a vapor, but as a believer in Christ, we have a worthwhile calling.

We serve the Lord Almighty—the great Maker of the heavens and earth, the One Who sent His own Son to earth to make a way for us to enter into His glory. May our hearts soar at the privilege of being His chosen daughter, redeemed with His blood, and called into service for His exaltation!

And may our lives reflect our deepest gratitude to Him Who has borne our curse, that we could not only be forgiven, but also share in His unveiled glory one day in heaven! Let’s press forward to this goal.

“Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.”
(Ephesians 6:5-6)

My prayer for you is that you would walk out this high calling with joy and gratitude, and that your life would be a sweet sacrifice poured out to Christ…today, until the day He calls you Home!

Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise.

Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne.

Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee.

Much love to you,
~Sarah Lee

P.S. We would love to hear how this understanding of your calling in Christ affects YOU in your daily life! Please leave a comment below so we can edify one another.

We are thankful for each of you and the blessing we have shared of encouraging one another in the Lord. While this is KBR Forum’s final monthly article, know that we continue to pray for you and that you are welcome to browse the past eight years of monthly articles!

by Sarah Lee Bryant

“The path of the just is as the shining light,
that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.”
(Proverbs 4:18)

Where are you headed?

Do you know? Do you have a plan? In one year from now, where do you want to be in your walk with Jesus? Do you want to be right where you are today, where you were a few years ago—or do you want to experience a completely new ground-breaking level in your personal and spiritual walk with the Lord?

The truth is, today you and I are making a hundred little choices that are determining where we will be in one year from now. Although we may not consciously think about this as we go about the day, each choice is setting the trajectory for our life.

As believers, it is important that we are always purposefully reaching forward, by God’s grace. The apostle Paul passionately wrote of his greatest desire and goal:

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 3:13-14)

The apostle knew where he was headed. He purposed with all of his heart and strength to press forward for the prize of the high calling he had in Jesus Christ. Sisters, this same purpose and goal should drive us as well:

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness;
and all these things shall be added unto you.”
(Matthew 6:33)

Are you seeking His righteousness?

Or are you complacent with your walk with the Lord? There is no middle ground! If we are not purposefully sowing the right things in our hearts and passionately seeking the Lord, a stronger walk with Him will not “just happen”! That’s why it’s important to take a step back and evaluate what really is going into our hearts, and where we are spending the majority of our time.

What are you eating mentally? What is going into your heart? Will it bring forth everlasting life, or selfishness and worldliness? Will it challenge and advance you, or leave you more dulled to learning and growing in wisdom?

Ask yourself about…

• The things you watch…
• The music you listen to…
• The social media you use…
• The time you spend on the internet…
• The people you like to spend time around…
• The texts you send and receive…
• The “comfortable place” that your thoughts resort to…
• The books you read…

…all of these things, and many, many more, are either deepening or weakening your spiritual walk with Jesus. In this day and age, it is especially easy to fall into the trap of using media purposelessly, and I believe this is a great distraction to our walks with the Lord. We should ask, Is this helping me in my goal to grow in the Lord and to show His love to others?

Whatever is not deepening our relationship with the Lord should be not only avoided, but also replaced with far richer things: time spent with the Lord, prayer, learning, and serving others! Each day we are given is a gift to be invested for the Lord (Romans 7). Let us not take it for granted!

What we sow this year—TODAY—we will reap in the years to come.

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked:
for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”
(Galatians 6:7)

What an encouraging promise—we can trust the Lord to bless the spiritual seeds that we sow each day, in His perfect timing and way!

As we enter a new year, it is a wonderful time to stop and refocus on what really matters.

You might even want to dedicate the first new week of this year to seek the Lord and gain a fresh purposeful perspective on how to grow in your walk with Him. As you do this, here are some thoughts to keep in mind.

1. Spend time before the Lord in prayer.

Open the Word of God on your knees, asking the Lord to show you areas that you need to grow in Him or begin serving Him more. Pray—set aside time to really seek the heart of God and humbly receive His direction.

2. Have a humble, surrendered heart.

As you spend time with the Lord, be humble and willing to surrender your own will—things that He shows you that are hindering a close and wholehearted walk with Him. Lay aside any areas or habits that are weighing you down spiritually (Hebrews 12:1).

3. Journal.

Write down what the Lord shows you, verses that speak to or convict you, thoughts or desires that come to mind, and ideas on how you can more purposefully seek the Lord in the new year. Writing often helps us process and clarify what the Lord is teaching us.

4. Make specific goals.

Seek the Lord as to how you can more actively deepen your walk with Him. Where do you want to be spiritually in one year from now? What steps do you need to take to work toward that goal? (As my dad says, if you don’t know where you’re going, any road will get you there…it’s important to have a plan!)

For example, if you need to grow in your prayer life, begin by confessing to the Lord your failure to prioritize this more highly in your life. Ask Him for strength to grow in this area, perseverance to develop it even when it’s difficult and you fail, and for a desire to spend more time at His feet. Then you could set a time each day that you will spend a certain length of time in prayer, and make a prayer list for each day. (Starting out with specific goals and guidelines like this is helpful, but as you grow in this area, you may find them less necessary as the Holy Spirit lays things on your heart during prayer!) Read books on prayer and biographies about incredible prayer warriors from history (George Mueller and Amy Carmichael for a start). Seek wisdom and advice on this topic from older godly women, and ask someone to keep you accountable.

While the specific area(s) for growth that the Lord impresses on your heart may vary, there are key steps to take: pray, ask the Lord for strength, make specific practical goals, find examples and encouragement, and ask for accountability.

As I personally look back over 2017…

I am grateful for the many deep lessons God has taught me. One year ago, I heard a sermon that the Lord used to convict me of areas that I needed to give over to Him and to live deeper surrender and service to Him. While no one else pointed these areas out to me—the Lord impressed on my heart that if I wanted to grow in my walk with Him, then these were the steps I must take. The road to growth would require obedience and faith, and He enabled me to walk that path. I can now see how those steps of faith at the beginning of 2017 were a crucial foundation in which greater lessons of trust and growth were planted throughout the year. I can gratefully testify that His ways bring steadfast joy and security even when the outcome is unseen and unknown. Sisters, growing in your walk with Jesus may require sacrifice on your part. As you spend time before Him, He may convict you of many things, calling you to higher ground. Be obedient, and follow Him. What He has in store to teach you will be worth it. He is a good Shepherd, a faithful Father, and He has great rewards in store for those who trust in and follow Him (Psalm 37).

Today, as you stand on the threshold of a new year—will you purpose to grow and to follow Jesus upward, or are you content with a mediocre Christian walk?

In a year from now, will you look back and be disappointed with the lack of growth in your life? Will you wonder what might have been if you would have more seriously sought His face?

Do you hear the prompting of the Holy Spirit—the Lord calling you closer to Himself, through surrender and obedience? If this is the case, I challenge you to get away with the Lord on your knees. Maybe it is being more diligent in Bible study, or confessing a bad attitude or habit, or separating from an unhealthy friendship, or serving others more… Whatever it may be, may neither you nor I be content to aimlessly walk through this new year without giving Jesus Christ full control over our lives—so that we can experience the joys of what He wants to do in and through it.

So…where are you headed this new year?

May it be into a deeper walk with the Lord, always advancing, growing, learning, and serving in His Kingdom! Don’t waste this wonderful gift of 2018!

“My Today” by Amy Carmichael

“And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.”
(Isaiah 45:3)

-Sarah Lee

P.S. I challenge you to memorize Proverbs 2:1-8 this month. Some other passages to study and memorize include Deuteronomy 13:4, Proverbs 1:5, Galatians 5:16, 25, Ephesians 5:2, Colossians 1:10, and I John 1:7.

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