Not perfect until our bodies are glorified in Heaven, but self mastery is ever increasing as we relax rather than strive into the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives.
Yes, I’ll give you that 🙂 The word in the quote is “complete” (mastery)–that’s where my engine stalled. When I read the verse about God being faithful to “complete” the good work He’s begun in us…I have assumed it means “perfected in Heaven”, not here. Although I’d be totally jazzed if He’d perfect me here–it would make life and relationships so much easier! 🙂
Well here or there it will happen and one is just an extension of the other really. It is all just stages of the same life and we are to be always growing and progressing. I have learned to be happy with any forward progress no matter how small and to rejoice in it with all my heart. It is kind of like watching my garden grow. Each new manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit is a reason to rejoice and that fruit is coming!
Good words, Bro. I’m deliriously happy whenever I see evidence of growth in myself–but sometimes I get a bit impatient and down on myself. So I really was blessed by your description of the “extension”–one reality to the next. You have a wonderful way of calming my “spiritual stresses” 🙂
I am glad it helped. I know realizing that we are already in the beginning of the unfolding promise has helped me to reorient my hope and joy even in this land of shadow.
Your help has been invaluable, as I hadn’t caught the revelation that “here” and “there” are not separate in the spiritual realm–only in the physical. It has definitely reoriented, and lifted me. Thank you again. PS: looks like I’ll be on hiatus for a couple weeks, lest you think I’ve fallen in a ditch 🙂
Have a nice break away and may the Lord bring you much blessing during this time.
Lillie-Put 
Complete mastery over self? I don’t see that happening, though it’s a nice notion.
It will come…one day. I look forward to it.
In Heaven, yes–but here??
Not perfect until our bodies are glorified in Heaven, but self mastery is ever increasing as we relax rather than strive into the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives.
Yes, I’ll give you that 🙂 The word in the quote is “complete” (mastery)–that’s where my engine stalled. When I read the verse about God being faithful to “complete” the good work He’s begun in us…I have assumed it means “perfected in Heaven”, not here. Although I’d be totally jazzed if He’d perfect me here–it would make life and relationships so much easier! 🙂
Well here or there it will happen and one is just an extension of the other really. It is all just stages of the same life and we are to be always growing and progressing. I have learned to be happy with any forward progress no matter how small and to rejoice in it with all my heart. It is kind of like watching my garden grow. Each new manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit is a reason to rejoice and that fruit is coming!
Good words, Bro. I’m deliriously happy whenever I see evidence of growth in myself–but sometimes I get a bit impatient and down on myself. So I really was blessed by your description of the “extension”–one reality to the next. You have a wonderful way of calming my “spiritual stresses” 🙂
I am glad it helped. I know realizing that we are already in the beginning of the unfolding promise has helped me to reorient my hope and joy even in this land of shadow.
Your help has been invaluable, as I hadn’t caught the revelation that “here” and “there” are not separate in the spiritual realm–only in the physical. It has definitely reoriented, and lifted me. Thank you again. PS: looks like I’ll be on hiatus for a couple weeks, lest you think I’ve fallen in a ditch 🙂
Have a nice break away and may the Lord bring you much blessing during this time.