Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. – (Philippians 1:6, NIV)
I am sure that the good work God began in you will continue until He completes it on the day when Jesus Christ comes again. – (Philippians 1:6, ERV)
I pray with great faith for you, because I’m fully convinced that the One who began this glorious work in you will faithfully continue the process of maturing you and will put His finishing touches to it until the unveiling of our Lord Jesus Christ! – (Philippians 1:6, TPT)
The same encouragement that Paul give to the church in Philippi applies to each of us who are pursuing God today. It is a promise that reminds us that we are a work in progress. I find great comfort in this, as I know that though He has done much refining in me, there is much to still be done. Not one of us “arrives” to sit idly by, but rather we need forever pursue God’s best for us and those around us. We are being made new and refined each day that we draw breath, until our days are through. I am so thankful that we get to be lifelong learners, rather than take some crash course and suddenly think that we have learned all there is to know and no longer need to grow. One of the best examples of this that I have known was my grandmother. My entire life, her purpose was to never stop learning and growing. She lived it out well, as her mind stayed sharp and her faith secure, even until her dying day, well into her nineties. Her faithful pursuit of God and a deeper understanding of everything and everyone around her, modeled for me that we should never stop learning and growing. May we never stop seeking God and His heart, so that we continue to learn and grow as He intended, until we meet Him face-to-face.
Choose to seek the Lord,
Throughout each new day;
His faithful presence,
Will show us the way.
For it’s God’s purpose,
His most perfect plan;
To grow and refine,
Show us how to stand.
Stand in His wisdom,
His goodness and grace;
Learn love as He loves,
‘til we see His face.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You love, grow and refine us as we earnestly seek You. Thank You that this is a lifelong process. Forgive us for neglecting to listen or act upon the ways in which You are leading us to learn, change and grow. Teach us to trust You and the process by which You refine us. Show us how to love more like You every day that we draw breath. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You and trust You to keep growing and refining us until the day that we meet You face-to-face. Amen.
© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present
Who is like You, Lord God Almighty? You, Lord, are mighty, and Your faithfulness surrounds You. – Psalm 89:8
Revelations In Writing 