I’m serious when I say, the biggest threat to my sanctification is the person who stares back at me in the mirror. I regularly pray, “Oh Lord, please protect me from myself. Please sanctify my desires so they conform to your will, not my own.” Recognize that you are your own worst enemy. If you can acknowledge this truth, you’ll make greater progress in your growth in grace.

In the end, move beyond the shallow general confession of sin and into the deeper maturity of confessing your particular sins particularly. In so doing you will not only discover the depths of the riches of Christ’s grace and mercies to meet your sin, but you will also make greater strides in your sanctification.

In the end, rather than pin our hopes on a man-made concept such as the Church Calendar, we should instead ask what our triune God has commanded in his word concerning our worship of him. We should celebrate the birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ every Lord’s Day as we look to the horizon in the hope and anticipation of Christ’s return on the last day.