Bonfire [Sanctified Flesh] Devotions Day 5

You Were Made for This

Devotional
Following Jesus does not shrink you. It does not make you smaller, sadder, or less yourself. It actually does the opposite. Sanctification, the ongoing process of becoming more like Christ, is not about erasing who you are. It is about becoming more fully who you were always created to be. When you strip off the sin and the weight and the old patterns that were never meant to define you, what is left is not less. It is more. It is the version of you that God had in mind when He made you. Matthew 16:25 captures this beautifully. Jesus says that if you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give it up for His sake, you will save it. That sounds like a loss until you realize what you are actually saving. This is not a sprint. It is a long race that requires endurance. There will be hard days and moments when you feel like you are back at the starting line. But you are not disqualified. You are not too far gone. Jesus has already run this race. He knows what it costs, and He is standing at the finish line waiting for you. You were made for this. Not because you are strong enough, but because He is. Surrender to Him today, and trust that the work He started in you is not finished yet.

Bible Verse
"If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it." - Matthew 16:25

Reflection Question
What would it look like for you to fully surrender the version of yourself you have been holding onto, and trust God with who He is making you into?

Quote
"Sanctification is not becoming someone smaller or sadder. It's becoming more fully who you were actually created to be because you're finally being aligned with your Creator's vision for whom He made you to be."

Prayer
Lord, I surrender the life I have been trying to control. I trust that what You are making me into is better than anything I could build on my own. Help me run this race with endurance and keep my eyes on You. Amen.