Apprehended to Apprehend
Sometimes what feels like emptying is really preparation for fullness — making space for something more.
Devotional Credit: Abide Above
Photo Credit: Unsplash
Today’s devotional by Miles Stanford invites us to reflect deeply on the truth that what God has already accomplished for us in Christ is something He now works into us by His Spirit. We are not meant to admire the Cross from afar or speak of it only in terms of forgiveness — we are to experience its power daily, as it “unforms” the old life and makes room for the new life to rise and reign within.
T. Austin-Sparks reminds us that while our old nature was crucified positionally with Christ, the application of that death is progressive. God is not destroying for the sake of devastation — He clears the ground to fill it with something more. His aim is not merely to save, but to conform us fully into the image of His Son — not just in standing, but in expression.
The natural life stands in the way of the divine life. Therefore, the Cross is not simply a one-time event we believe in; it’s a continual experience by which the life of Christ is increasingly expressed through us. And if that expression means we pass through fire — it’s because He’s preparing a place for more. He has apprehended us, and now we press on to apprehend the fullness of that calling.
Personalized Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture
I have laid hold of you with purpose. I have called you out of darkness into light, not simply to rescue, but to transform. You are no longer your own. You were bought with a price, and I have joined you to My Son in both His death and resurrection.
Old things have passed away. The old man was crucified so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless. I now walk you into what is already true: that you are risen with Christ, and your life is hidden with Him in Me.
But the life I deposited in you is not meant to remain dormant. I long for it to become a spring welling up, a life visible and overflowing. Therefore, do not be surprised when I press you into places of discomfort. I am not punishing you. I am removing the clutter that obstructs the expression of My Son’s life through you.
The fire is not for destruction but refinement. I discipline those I love so that they may share My holiness. My goal is never just the death of the old, but the manifestation of the new. You have been apprehended — now press on to apprehend all that is yours in Christ.
(Scripture references: 1 Peter 2:9; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Romans 6:6; Colossians 3:1-3; John 4:14; Hebrews 12:10-11; Philippians 3:12)
Real-Life Analogy
Think of a cluttered garage that’s filled wall to wall with boxes, old tools, and forgotten junk. It was once a space with potential — to work, to create, maybe even to rest — but it can’t be used for its intended purpose until it’s cleared out. The cleaning process feels messy and overwhelming, but it makes way for something new: space, purpose, clarity. In the same way, the Cross removes the clutter of our natural life not to leave us empty, but to make room for the full expression of Christ’s life in us.
Prayer of Confidence
Father, I rejoice that I am already Yours — fully apprehended in Christ. I rest in knowing that You are not finished with me, and that even the painful spaces are part of Your loving preparation for something more. I trust Your process. Thank You for conforming me to the life of Your Son from the inside out. I yield today not to effort, but to the beautiful work of Your Spirit, knowing that what You began, You will bring to full expression.