“Holiness of life is simply the response of a loving heart to the grace and love that God has shown us in Christ.” T.L. Lowery from Apostles and Prophets: Reclaiming the Biblical Gifts

In this section, I’m quoting from others more than usual because their insights helped so much when I questioned how to live holy and how to get there.

From the article “ 3 Ways to Live a Holy Life” at Kenneth Copeland Ministries, the writer said, “Holiness is a decision of your will – it is what you choose to do with your life.  It is your conduct – living according to God’s commandments. In short, holiness is doing those things that please Him. It’s what you do with your time and your actions (I’d add ‘and your money’). It is living to please God – and it bears fruit.” 

The same story lists three ways to be holy (paraphrased): disconnect from the world, stay away from tempting things, and do what God wants us to do.  

Before we can be holy, though, we have to be humble. 

Every time I read 2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” and others like it, I wondered, How do I humble myself?

Until I read I: The Root of Sin Exposed, I still didn’t know. Steve Gallagher wrote the ways we humble ourselves include (paraphrased):

• Regret and apologize for our demanding attitudes.
• Replace our demands with a spirit of gratitude.
• Raise up others. 

The same as with healing and happiness, if I wanted holiness, I had to exchange it for trying hard. 

Since I used to not give up on trying hard as easily as I do now, it took a lot of failing before I became humble enough to ask for help. I believe our asking begins our ascent to holiness, which is the result of reading our Bibles, spending time with Him, and accepting help from the Holy Spirit that www.mydictionary.com defines (and I love) as “God’s continued presence on Earth.” 

I’m holy because I spend time with Him. There is no other way to get there. 

In This Together,
Kim

FYI: I’m blogging my book titled On The Other Side of Trying Hard: Healing, Happiness, and Holiness. Because the blog posts will eventually be an entire manuscript instead of stand-alone stories, some posts may leave you hanging. I hope you’ll hang in here with us anyway ‘cause a happy ending is coming. Each blog post title includes the chapter title first. The phrase in parentheses is one subheading within the chapter. I’d love to hear your reflections, questions, and suggestions. I’m over-the-top grateful you’re here.