Day 19: Lent 2025 – Sanctify me by Your word

Day 19 Reflection: “Sanctify Me by Your Word”

Key Scripture: John 17:17 – “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”

Sanctification is a crucial aspect of the Christian journey. It is the process of being set apart for God’s purpose, growing in holiness, and conforming to the image of Christ. In John 17:17, Jesus prays for His disciples, asking the Father to sanctify them through His Word. This highlights the transformative power of God’s Word in purifying, renewing, and guiding believers into a life that reflects His holiness.

Understanding Sanctification

The word “sanctify” comes from the Greek word hagiazō, which means “to make holy,” “to purify,” or “to consecrate.” Sanctification involves:

1. Separation from the World – As believers, we are called to live differently from the world, being set apart for God’s purposes. (Romans 12:2 – “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”)
2. Spiritual Cleansing – God’s Word acts as a cleansing agent in our lives, washing away impurities. (Ephesians 5:26 – “That He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word.”)
3. Conformity to Christ – Sanctification is the process of becoming more like Jesus, as we submit to His Word. (2 Corinthians 3:18 – “We all, with unveiled faces, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image.”)

The Role of God’s Word in Sanctification

Jesus declares that God’s Word is truth, and it is through this truth that believers are sanctified. How does the Word sanctify us?

1. Revealing Sin and Correcting Errors
   • Psalm 119:9 – “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.”
   • The Word of God exposes areas in our lives that need transformation and leads us to repentance.
2. Renewing the Mind
   • Romans 12:2 – “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
   • Through regular study and meditation on Scripture, our thoughts and desires align with God’s will.
3. Building Faith and Strengthening Holiness
   • Acts 20:32 – “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up.”
   • The Word of God equips us with spiritual strength, helping us overcome temptations and live in righteousness.
4. Equipping for Good Works
   • 2 Timothy 3:16-17 – “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
   • The Bible provides the guidance necessary for a life of holiness and service.

How to be Sanctified by God’s Word

1. Daily Study and Meditation – Regularly reading and reflecting on Scripture allows the Word to shape our thoughts and actions. (Psalm 1:2 – “His delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.”)
2. Obedience to God’s Commands – Sanctification requires active obedience to what God reveals through His Word. (James 1:22 – “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”)
3. Prayer for the Work of the Holy Spirit – The Holy Spirit empowers us to live out God’s Word in holiness. (John 16:13 – “When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth.”)
4. Fellowship with Other Believers – Encouragement and accountability within the body of Christ help in spiritual growth. (Hebrews 10:25 – “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another.”)

Conclusion

Sanctification is a lifelong process that takes place as we immerse ourselves in God’s Word and allow it to transform us. Jesus’ prayer in John 17:17 reminds us that true holiness comes from embracing the truth found in Scripture. As we continue in this 40-day journey of fasting and prayer, let us commit ourselves to being sanctified by God’s Word so that we may live a life that glorifies Him.

May the Lord sanctify you and strengthen you through His Word! Amen.

 

Prayer:

1. Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your living and active word in our lives in Jesus’ name. (Hebrews 4:12).
2. We receive the grace to truly accept the word of God and the power to work in us who believe in Jesus’ name. (1 Thessalonians 2:13).
3. Father, sanctify us by Your truth because Your word is truth in Jesus’ name. (John 17:17).
4. O Lord, let Your word richly dwell within us in Jesus’ name. (Colossians 3:16).
5. We receive the grace to hide Your word in our hearts for us not to sin against You in Jesus’ name. (Psalms 119:10-11).
6. O Lord, sanctify the church through the washing of water with Your word in Jesus’ name. (Ephesians 5:26).
7. O Lord, purify our soul through Your living and enduring word in Jesus’ name. (1 Peter 1:23).
8. O Lord, let the power in Your word set us free from any evil stronghold that does not want us to know the truth in Jesus’ name. (John 8:32).
9. O Lord, let Your word penetrate into our soul, spirit, thoughts and attitudes in Jesus’ name. (Hebrews 4:12).
10. O Lord, let Your word set us apart for Your purposes in Jesus’ name.
11. O Lord, grant us the grace to live a life distinct to the world and dedicated to Your service in Jesus’ name. (2 Timothy 3:17).
12. We receive the grace to seek God’s truth in the scripture and in our daily lives in Jesus’ name. (Matthew 6:23).
13. Heavenly Father, we thank You for You have already cleansed us through Your word which You have spoken in Jesus’ name. (John 15:3).
14. O Lord, we thank You for the grace to experience the transformative power of Your word in our lives in Jesus’ name. (Hebrews 4:12).
15. We thank You Lord for answered prayers in Jesus’ name.