Being Set Apart

One thing I wrestle with a lot is how to be set apart. I know that as a Christian I am called to be set apart from the crowd. Sometimes that can mean different things at different stages of life. I pray constantly for God to show me how this concept can work in my life, this very day, and to show me what that would look like on a daily basis.

Being set apart means to be made holy, consecrated to Him. Christian author Martha Noebel writes, "Christians are given a special role in life to serve Him. We are transferred from the domain of darkness to the Kingdom of Light. We are strangers to this world's system. Instead of thinking and acting like the world, we are set apart from this more common way of viewing and living life and are given a different purpose, which is to serve God and become more like Jesus. You could say that we are separated from worldliness and given new purpose in Jesus to be used by God."

A specific prayer of mine is always that God will give me different desires than those of the world. Desires to be constantly faithful to all that he has entrusted to me. But somehow I constantly get off track. Mainly because I want to fit in. I don't want to be different. I want my conversations to mirror those of my neighbors. I don't like being singled out as being different. Even though I know that is what God desires for me, I seem to fight it at every turn.

However, First Thessalonians Chapter 4 tells us that we are living only to please God. Let that sink in. To please God only. How many of us can we say that we do that? I know I live to please my husband, my children, my friends.... but what would my life look like if I truly lived to please God only? I truly believe that the rest would fall into place.

Chapter 4 clarifies some of these thoughts for me. It says that we are to encourage people who are afraid,  live in peace with each other, help those who are weak, be patient with everyone, be sure that no one pays back wrong for wrong, and always try to do what is good for each other.

Wow! Do any of you feel that the head knowledge is there, but transferring these words from mere knowledge to action is so difficult sometimes? Chapter 5 goes on to say that we are to always be joyful, pray continually, give thanks for whatever happens, hold on to the good, and to not be like others (verse 6).

My continual prayer is for the Holy Spirit to transform me and to take these words and move them from my head into my heart.