Sanctifying Edits to Holiness
by: Stacey Weeks
When I began writing fiction, I drafted a purpose statement that conveyed my desire to create God-honoring, life-changing messages through writing entertaining stories. I keep this statement before me because I know my purpose is an impossible task apart from God.
I can only present a life-changing message if I know the life-changing message. I will only write God-honoring stories if I live a God-honoring life and think God-honoring thoughts. Stories flow from the overflow of my heart. But will this overflow illustrate an author transformed by the power of God?
I believe God has called me to write fiction that honours Him, and I need to depend on Him to live that calling out.
Sanctifying Edits
By the time a novel reaches publication, it has gone through several rounds of refining edits. Each time I return edits to the publisher, I think, “This is it. Now, it’s perfect.” But without fail, the manuscript returns to me with more recommendations to tighten and polish the prose. Such is the Christian life. God calls us to repentance and creates in us a clean heart, and we think, “This is it. I won’t struggle with sin again.” But without fail, flesh rears its ugly head, proving we need God’s mercy and strength daily for everything. This is part of sanctification, the process of being made holy.
All Things
Wherever you are or whatever you do, you have a purpose that includes doing all things to the glory of God (1 Cor 10:31). I did a quick search on the word “all”, and I’m happy to report that it still means all. All things are all things. Everything. In my life, that looks like...
Homeschooling our kids in grades 12, 9, and 8.
House cleaning, cooking, and shopping.
Completing school assignments, because I’m a student.
I’m married, so I’m a helpmate to my spouse.
I’m a freelance writer for various publications, and a novelist.
We are a ministry family.
Your list might hold different things, and that’s okay. But whatever is on your list, do them for the glory of God.
But when the apostle Paul wrote to do all things to the glory of God, he didn’t know my daughter just spilled hot tea on her brand-new MacBook laptop, ruining it. She had to use mine for weeks, making it difficult for me to meet writing deadlines. Paul didn’t know about that person I find difficult to work with, or how polarizing opinions are ripping apart the family of God. And Paul didn’t know about the extenuating circumstances in your life right now that makes it feel impossible to complete all things to God’s glory, yet that is exactly what we are called to do.
By the Strength of God
God never just gives us a list of things to do and says, “good luck”. No. God calls us to be sanctified and then gives us everything we need through the power of His Spirit to obey this command. We do this on His strength. On my strength, I’m writing for my glory. On my strength, I’m frustrated with my daughter, angry at my co-worker, and judgemental of those who hold different opinions from mine.
But by His strength, I can write as an offering and sacrifice to God. I can parent, educate, and raise my children in the ways of God. By God’s strength, I can be a support to my husband during one of the most difficult times we’ve ever faced in ministry. Similarly, He will give you the strength you need to fulfill your calling and purpose to the glory of His name. The path isn’t easy, and it isn’t always clear, but we can walk it in thankfulness.
Give Thanks
Thanks be to God who set an impossible standard of holiness, and then provided His Son to impute holiness upon us when we repent of our sin and believe in his name. Give thanks that as long as there is breath in our lungs, creativity in our minds, and energy in our limbs, we can write a new story. Give thanks that as we depend on Christ to complete the good work that He has started in us, we can know with certainty that our inheritance is secure, because the Scriptures say so.
This thankfulness can keep God’s praise constantly on our lips. By the power of the Spirit at work in us, we fulfill our purpose of being sanctified through humble dependence on God, resulting in the glory of God’s name in everything we do.
Stacey is a ministry wife, mother of three, and a sipper of hot tea with honey. She loves to open the Word of God and share the hope of Christ with women. She is a multi-award-winning author, a frequent conference speaker, and a homeschool mom. Learn more at www.StaceyWeeks.com!