Imago Dei - Nuggets

Nugget - March 2007

Not Mine Lord - by Tina Parker

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through, May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless...the one who calls you is faithful and He will do it.

The mission of Imago Dei was borne out of the above verse and thus dear to the hearts of us on the ministry team! Let's take a closer look. Sanctify as defined by Webster's means to be set apart, to be made holy or to purify, to be freed from sin.

So, to paraphrase this verse, the author of Thessalonians is saying that our Heavenly Father, who is so faithful to do as He says, will set you free, purify you, set you apart, free you from sin and in doing so make you holy! WOW! Don't you want to be sanctified? Have you ever thought about it like that? I have come to love the idea of sanctification. I believe the Lord has given me a vision of just how He will do this in me and I would venture to say in you as well. God doesn't just want to work with part of a person. He created us in body, soul and sprit and He wants to work with the whole person sanctifying us “through and through”.

Prior to leaving to lead the first Image Quest, I began waking in the night somewhat still in my sleep, I found myself saying “not my words but Yours, not my heart but Yours, not my hands but Yours, not my ways but Yours...” This happened for several nights in a row. I related the story to my sister. Not thinking about the scripture we had chosen to build our vision on, she said, “You are being sanctified.” WOW! I reminded her of the scripture and we both were overwhelmed with the amazing work of our Heavenly Father.

I am far from being completely sanctified. I remain a sinner in need of a Savior. But our Christian walk is a process in which God desires to “sanctify us through and through” along the way. Don't you want to be set free, made holy, purified and set apart? Don't you want to be different so that people can see a true change in you? Only God can do this in our lives through the blood of Jesus Christ our Savior. It is already been accomplished on the cross for you and me. Now, do your part. Begin to pray Lord not my________, but Yours. Fill in the blank with as many things as you need to take to Him. Below are some more that I have brought before the Lord in a variety of situations.

not my feet, but Yours, not my eyes, but Yours
not my child, but Yours, not my desires, but Yours
not my thoughts, but Yours, not my race, but Yours
not my tears, but Yours, not my idea, but Yours
not my work, but Yours, not my opinion, but Yours
not my life, but Yours, not my money, but Yours
not my mouth, but Yours, not my ministry, but Yours
not my home, but Yours, not my church, but Yours

Beth Moore states in her book, Praying God's Word, “God deeply desires for us to grant Him total access to set apart every single part of our lives - body, soul and spirit - to His glorious work.” Take a step today, open the door, and give Him access so that He may “sanctify you through and through.


Home The Vision The Team Bible Study Image Quest Moms in Action Calendar Nuggets Photo Albums Resources Imago Dei Friends Contact Us	Nugget - March 2007 Not Mine Lord - by Tina Parker 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through, May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless...the one who calls you is faithful and He will do it. The mission of Imago Dei was borne out of the above verse and thus dear to the hearts of us on the ministry team! Let's take a closer look. Sanctify as defined by Webster's means to be set apart, to be made holy or to purify, to be freed from sin. So, to paraphrase this verse, the author of Thessalonians is saying that our Heavenly Father, who is so faithful to do as He says, will set you free, purify you, set you apart, free you from sin and in doing so make you holy! WOW! Don't you want to be sanctified? Have you ever thought about it like that? I have come to love the idea of sanctification. I believe the Lord has given me a vision of just how He will do this in me and I would venture to say in you as well. God doesn't just want to work with part of a person. He created us in body, soul and sprit and He wants to work with the whole person sanctifying us “through and through”. Prior to leaving to lead the first Image Quest, I began waking in the night somewhat still in my sleep, I found myself saying “not my words but Yours, not my heart but Yours, not my hands but Yours, not my ways but Yours...” This happened for several nights in a row. I related the story to my sister. Not thinking about the scripture we had chosen to build our vision on, she said, “You are being sanctified.” WOW! I reminded her of the scripture and we both were overwhelmed with the amazing work of our Heavenly Father. I am far from being completely sanctified. I remain a sinner in need of a Savior. But our Christian walk is a process in which God desires to “sanctify us through and through” along the way. Don't you want to be set free, made holy, purified and set apart? Don't you want to be different so that people can see a true change in you? Only God can do this in our lives through the blood of Jesus Christ our Savior. It is already been accomplished on the cross for you and me. Now, do your part. Begin to pray Lord not my________, but Yours. Fill in the blank with as many things as you need to take to Him. Below are some more that I have brought before the Lord in a variety of situations. not my feet, but Yours, not my eyes, but Yours not my child, but Yours, not my desires, but Yours not my thoughts, but Yours, not my race, but Yours not my tears, but Yours, not my idea, but Yours not my work, but Yours, not my opinion, but Yours not my life, but Yours, not my money, but Yours not my mouth, but Yours, not my ministry, but Yours not my home, but Yours, not my church, but Yours Beth Moore states in her book, Praying God's Word, “God deeply desires for us to grant Him total access to set apart every single part of our lives - body, soul and spirit - to His glorious work.” Take a step today, open the door, and give Him access so that He may “sanctify you through and through.