February 26, Exactly what does being holy mean?, Deut. 23:1-8, Num. 6:1-21, Lev. 27;1-34, Deut. 23:21-23, Lev. 19;1-2, Deut. 22:9-11, Lev. 19:19

"In all things the Israelites were to be holy, pure, and set apart from the people and practices of the nations around them. To emphasize the idea of seperateness, the Israelites were forbidden certain mixtures." Daily Bible Comments

Leviticus 19:1-2

Amplified Bible (AMP)

19 And the Lord said to Moses,

² Say to all the assembly of the Israelites, You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.

What exactly does it mean to be holy? 

Being holy is not mysterious. Not at all. Holiness is simply making one choice at a time to be nearer to Jesus. Holiness is choosing to be set apart from the world. One decision at a time. It's actually fun! It's not overwhelming or impossible. It's an exciting journey that leads to completeness and wholeness which in turn leads to happiness! Really! 

I have found this out from personal experience. Since my healing from anxiety and depression in 2008, I actually wake up every morning like a child in a candy store, just wondering what Jesus has planned for me each day! Really!

Holiness is clinging to Jesus. Satan, the enemy of our soul, is always trying to side track us from following Jesus. He's constantly trying to make the right choice seem like the boring choice. Not so!!! The right choice will seem boring at first, but one right choice after another leads to a VERY exciting and fulfilling life!!! Making right choices is like training for the Olympics. Just keep your eye on the prize, develop a very tight relationship with your coach (Jesus), and He will lead you to the Gold. Just do EVERYTHING He tells you to do! Dont make ONE move without his approval. 

Sometimes we don't even know what it is we want out of life. Sometimes we are stuck in a fog of confusion. Maybe we are hurting and need to be healed and cleansed first before we can even know what it is we are striving for!

My daughter has a beautiful testimony. She was stuck in a negative relationship that was literally going nowhere for years. Not kidding. Little by little, she gained the strength to walk away. She took baby steps. Following Jesus' lead. She found herself alone and dating no one for several years. (3 or 4, I don't remember). Was it easy? No. During this time, she allowed God to do a cleansing work in her. She got a LOT of questions. Everywhere she went. Are you dating anyone? Are you married? Do you have children? She just focused on Jesus and ministry. She wasn't bored, not at all! She had friends and fun times, but just said no to negative relationships. Was it worth it to make choices to be holy and separate even though she was lonely at times? A thousand times yes!   

She ran every decision by Jesus. She decided to go to the General Conference of the United Pentecostal Church in 2011, where she met her husband, Nathan. He is the man Jesus chose for her! Is her life boring and pathetic? A thousand times no! She is completely fulfilled! 

"Jesus, being holy sometimes seems kind of weird to me. I desire to be happy, though! I desire to make right choices! Please lead me to total holiness and fulfillment in You! Even though I cant see myself being a super holy person. Help me understand that holy doesnt mean weird! It means I can actually get my life back! It means I can actually be whole and complete! Lead me to wholeness, Jesus! I want to cling to You! I want to stop this vicious cycle of wrong choices I'm on! Purify my motives, oh God! Purify my desires! Help me understand I can do it one step at a time! With You leading me! I give You the praise and the honor. I thank You ahead of time! In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.