I want less darkness in my life and more light. I want less self-focus and more love for others. I want less ego and more humility. I want less defensiveness and more kindness. I want less sin and more purity.

There’s enmity between sin and sanctity. You can’t welcome both sin and the Holy Spirit in your heart at the same time. Focusing on one will distance you from the other.

Sin embraced is Christ denied. Christ embraced crushes the sin that’s in your heart and drives it out. The one you host the most will win the day. “Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.” Spend your time and energy “looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.”

Sin brings shame and shame makes us lame. Instead of limping through life in the shadow of sin’s shame, Jesus invites people to soar in the strength of His Spirit.

Focus on, welcome, and embrace God’s inner voice, not sin’s temptations. Welcome and obey your conscience, not your cravings and compulsions. Fight the good fight of faith — so that you can truly rely on and totally depend on the presence and power of the risen Jesus throughout each day. Be persistently led by the Spirit, not by sin.

Nothing can compare to the wonder of keeping your heart and mind centered on the living Jesus. These words — happy, blessed, high, thrilled, delighted, jubilant, elated, and enraptured — can’t begin to describe how keeping my attention focused on Jesus makes me feel!

Staying focused on Jesus requires much more than passive church attendance. It requires ongoing concentration and yearning for His presence. (In fact, with so much attention in a church service focused on the person upfront, it makes it hard for me to zero in on the presence of the risen Jesus during the Sunday program.)

There’s enmity
Between sin
And sanctity.
Sin produces shame.
Shame makes us lame.
Learn to live and walk
Throughout each day
Led by God’s Spirit.
Walk a pure walk
Don’t just talk the talk.