The house woke up slowly this morning. I heard every groan it made. The refrigerator popped like a firecracker, the ceiling fan creaked and squeaked, reminding me of a roller coaster going uphill, straining to get to the top. The ice machine slowly whirred into action.

My body woke, too, when I shifted into a more comfortable position. My knees popped, my back creaked and my heart whirred from the exertion of it all, reminding me: This month I turn sixty-five. Wow. I’m officially old. I have this card that tells me so. Nothing says over the hill like a medicare card with your name on it. 😳

Later that morning, while studying through Titus, I ran across Titus 2:2, which says this: Older women are to be reverent.

What? Me? Am I reverent? What does it even mean?

Bottom line, it means to be holy, devout dignified, as befitting holiness.

Pondering my life to date, I thought I’d be further along in my sanctification. 

Have you ever felt this way? You know you’re growing in Christ and as a Christian, but you feel like your growth isn’t growing like it should. You need a little holy Miracle Grow poured over you. Do you ever think that by this stage in life, you’d be more kind, more patient, more self-controlled? Me, too!

Friend, don’t throw up your hands in discouragement. Know this: 

Sanctification is a slow process.

That’s why scripture says “older women.” We grow as we age, and walk closely with Jesus, trusting His heart. Older women (generally speaking) are further along in their spiritual walk than the young gals. We’ve lived through more (and survived), we’ve experienced the goodness and mercy of the Lord, and yes, we’ve recognized that He has grown us.

Surrendering to the Holy Spirit’s work in our heart, we grow in holiness.  Sometimes that surrender is day by day, sometimes it’s minute by minute. 

If you have the desire in your heart to become more holy, more reverent, a gracious older woman, take heart! Learn to recognize when the “old you” is likely to come roaring into action. (With me it’s dealing with doctors and insurance.) If you know a flare up of the flesh is coming, you can head it off with prayer, scripture, and turning from your fleshly reaction. Because, if you want to grow, you’ve got to practice obedience. 

This quote on Facebook, from Glenna Marshall says it all:

“If you desire to walk with Jesus more ten years from now, twenty years from now, or thirty years from now, you need to be feeding your faithfulness today. That’s not something that’s just going to magically happen.”

Feed your faithfulness today.

Sanctification takes a lifetime to complete. As we grow in grace, we are slowly – but steadily – becoming more like Jesus. 

Every day on earth, we are one step closer to our heavenly home. Don’t coast to the finish line. Walk in step with Jesus. He will finish what He started  in you!^⁠1

“The righteous thrive like a palm tree and grow like a cedar tree in Lebanon. Planted in the house of the LORD, they thrive in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, healthy and green” Psalm 92:12-14 CSB

¹ Philippians 1:6