I was talking to a friend a little while back and he said, “You and I should be so much further along in our walk with Christ than we are.” My response was, “You’re right.” We both had our come to Jesus moment around the same time, 25 or so years ago. Even with all that time, we both feel that we should be more established in our faith than what we are. As I get older and another day closer to heaven, there are many things I wish I could say about how I have lived out my Christianity. I wish I knew the Bible as much as other people think I do. I wish I had as much of the joy of the Lord as what the Bible says I can. I wish I prayed as much as other people would like me to. I wish I could forget the pain of my past. I wish I wouldn’t experience the loneliness that I do at times, the fear of failure that I am plagued with, and the self doubt that leads me to believe that I am not good enough for anyone. I wish that I learned about the love of my Savior when I was younger. I wish that I loved the Lord with all my heart, soul, mind and strength without being distracted by the cares and worries of the world. I wish I feared God as much as He deserves. I wish I did the good works that I am called to fulfill and not just the ones I make time to do. There are many other things that I “wish”, but there are many more things that I know because of what is written in the scriptures, and the words written have changed my wishes into reality by the work of the Holy Spirit. The reason behind why I know these things is not because of my feelings, experiences, or accomplishments, but because God has spoken clearly and truthfully through His Word. It is written in *Hebrews 4:12 “For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.”* There is power in the Word of God that changes lives. I like the reasoning that Charles Spurgeon describes about wishes: “If you wish to know God, you must know his Word. If you wish to perceive His power, you must see how He works by his Word. If you wish to know His purpose before it comes to pass, you can only discover it by His Word.” The more I live, the more I realize that spiritual maturity is not measured by perfection but by perseverance. May we never confuse spiritual growth with spiritual perfection, but instead rejoice in the faithfulness of God who patiently works in us each day. The longer I walk with Christ, the more I realize that my greatest need is not to try harder, but to abide more deeply in Him. I know that there have been seasons when my faith felt weak, yet the Lord remained faithful through every one of them. I have learned that God’s grace is not only what saves us in the beginning, but also what sustains us every step of the journey forward. Though I often see the distance between where I am and where I want to be, God sees the work He is accomplishing within me day by day. The Christian life is not a sprint toward achievement but a continual surrender in obedience to the One who has already secured the victory. What encourages me most is knowing that the Lord is committed to finishing the good work that He began not only in me but in all of His children. Whether you have walked with Christ for fifty years or five days, His dedication remains the same: “Come and follow Me, and I will give you life and life more abundantly.” None of us have arrived, and all of us stand in need of His mercy, grace, and transforming power for sanctification. Let us encourage one another to remain faithful in prayer, diligent in the Scriptures, and obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit. And as we do, we can trust that God will continue shaping us into the image of His Son until the day we see Him face to face. For it is His grace, His Spirit, and His Word that accomplish in us what we could never accomplish on our own. And as we abide in His Word and trust in His promises, we can rest assured that He is making us into the men and women He has called us to be. I am not sure about anybody else, but for me, it is time for there to be a transition from self-reflection to growth that comes through God’s ongoing work, not our own perfection. The overall flow moves from wishing → knowing → persevering → trusting → becoming all that God has called me to be, and all who read these words as well. My Friends, may we get into His Word so that His Word will get into us, then He will help us be who we are meant to be and not just who we wish we were. Amen.

My BeLoved, may the grace and peace of the Lord Jesus, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen. In Christ Love, douglas. HE>i. pastord.blog

Special Note: I want to thank those who read what I write and are encouraged to support the ministry God has entrusted to me either one time or have decided to give on a monthly basis. I am encouraged to see certain verses playing out before my eyes like what is written in *Philippians 4:16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.*

To any who are interested, please feel free to reach out to me with prayer requests, questions, encouragement, or for information on how to come alongside me with financial support at pastord.blog@gmail.com or I do have a Zelle account associated with my phone number, 5202720387 last name Blaser. Thank you my Beloved for your ongoing prayers and support.