WALKING IN THE DEPTHS OF HOLINESS
A new year is more than a turning of pages; it is an invitation into deeper waters. It calls us not merely to adjust habits, but to set our hearts again on one holy aim—to please Christ. Holiness is not a sudden leap into perfection, but a deliberate leaning of the soul toward God, a renewed willingness to belong to Him without reserve. “Be holy, for I am holy” is not a threat, but a gracious summons from the God who desires our nearness (First Peter 1:15-16).
To walk in the depths of holiness is to decide that every moment matters because Christ is Lord of every moment. It is learning to pay attention—to words spoken quickly, to thoughts left unchecked, to habits excused too easily—because love has sharpened our awareness. Paul prayed that believers would “walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work” (Colossians 1:10). That kind of walk is slow, intentional, and rooted in reverence, not performance.
Holiness is not withdrawal from the world, but a transformed way of moving through it. Jesus prayed not that His followers would be taken out of the world, but that they would be kept from evil while living faithfully within it (John 17:15-18). True holiness shows itself in ordinary faithfulness—how we treat people when no one is watching, how we respond when provoked, how we choose truth over convenience, love over comfort, obedience over ease.
This pursuit requires more than resolve; it requires surrender. We do not make ourselves holy by force of will, but by abiding in Christ, who alone produces fruit that lasts (John 15:4-5). The Spirit patiently shapes us as we yield—convicting, correcting, comforting, and conforming us to the image of the Son. Over time, what once felt like effort becomes desire, and what once felt costly becomes joy.
So let this year be marked not by louder promises, but by quieter faithfulness. Let it be said that you walked with God, paid attention to His voice, and lived with a settled intention to please Him in all things. “Now may the God of peace make you complete in every good work to do His will” (Hebrews 13:20-21).
Such a life, hidden with Christ, will bear more glory than any resolution ever could.
_________
Lord Jesus, set my heart on pleasing You alone; lead me deeper into holiness, and teach me to walk attentively before You each day. Amen.
BDD
