Look to the Spirit and grace of God to guide you into the truth of God’s Law, to kindle in you the righteousness of Jesus, and establish you in it until your life’s end (Rom. 3.31). He knows what He’s doing. This is the way Jesus lived; it’s the way we must live as well (1 Jn. 2.1-6).

Give and grant and impart to me, 

Thy holy grace, and Thy Holy Spirit, 

to protect me and preserve me from all my sins 

present and future, 

and to kindle in me all righteousness, 

and to establish me in that righteousness 

to my life’s end…

  – Litany of Jesus II, Irish, 15th century[1]

…for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

  – Philippians 2.13

The primary work of the Holy Spirit in those who believe in Jesus, is to transform us into the image of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 3.12-18). John the Baptist understood this when he insisted that, for him to realize his full humanity and purpose, Jesus had to increase in him, and he had to decrease (Jn. 3.30).

The Holy Spirit within us is bent on our growing into the likeness of Jesus. We must pursue no other agenda than this. He knows what He wants, and He knows how to get us there.

If being transformed increasingly into the image of Jesus Christ is not the driving force in our life, then we are not lined up with the reason for which God has given us His Spirit. We have instead hoisted the sails of our little vessel into winds other than those of the Spirit, and we’re not following the course charted for us in God’s master plan.

Only when we have unfurled our sails into the Spirit, allowing Him to blow upon, fill, and direct us, can we expect to realize fullness of life in Jesus Christ—being transformed into His image. Increasing in the knowledge of Jesus and His righteousness. Doing everything that we do for His honor and glory, and for the progress of His Kingdom.

This is entirely a work of God’s grace, the result of His Spirit working in us according to the Word of God. The anonymous writer of our Litany understood this very well.

But how does this occur? What happens to transform us, so that more of Jesus and less of, well, me is what people encounter each day?

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