Holiness Isn’t a Suggestion—It’s a Lifestyle!

I’m not going to lie—I used to run from the word holy. It scared me. Holiness, to me, felt like some impossible standard of perfection that only a select few could attain—those “Mary Amaka” types (for my Nigerians, you know what I mean). I thought holiness meant being a goody two-shoes, a religious rule-follower, the kind of person who never had fun. Holiness? That wasn’t for me. I was too flawed, too messy, too… human.

See, I lived a double life. Sunday morning, I was in church, hands lifted, singing Jesus is my Savior. But by Friday night? I was deep in the mix—partying, gossiping, entertaining sin like it was my best friend. I downplayed holiness because, honestly, I didn’t understand it fully. But once I started to read my Bible. And slowly, I realized something—holiness isn’t perfection; it’s being set apart.

1. Holiness Is Not an Option—It’s a Command

“Be holy, for I am holy.” —1 Peter 1:16

Notice how that verse doesn’t say “try” to be holy. It doesn’t say “if you feel like it” be holy. It says BE HOLY—straight up, no negotiations. Holiness is the standard because Jesus is the standard. We are made in His image, and if He is holy, then we ought to be holy too.

At first, that scared me. But the more I walked with God, the more I realized that holiness isn’t about performing or pretending. It’s about choosing God’s ways over the world’s ways in every area of life—what you watch, what you listen to, how you speak, how you treat people, how you run your business, how you handle your emotions. Holiness is saying yes to God, even when it’s inconvenient or unpopular.

2. Holiness Is Not Just About Sexual Purity

Let’s be real—when most people hear “holiness,” their minds immediately go to don’t have sex before marriage, don’t watch porn, don’t be lustful. And yes, that’s part of it. But holiness is so much deeper.

Paul tells us in Romans 12:1:

“I appeal to you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”

Our whole lives are meant to be lived in holiness—including how we care for our physical bodies.

Some of us don’t struggle with sexual immorality, but we are completely reckless with our health. We consume junk, don’t exercise, and then pray for long life—make it make sense! Look at Daniel—when he was in Babylon, he refused to eat the king’s rich food and chose a simple diet of vegetables and water. After ten days, he and his friends looked stronger and healthier than the others (Daniel 1:8-14). Daniel’s choice was an act of holiness—he set himself apart even in his diet. What we consume physically matters.

This hit me hard because, truth be told, I’ve neglected my own health at times. But holiness is holistic—it’s about honoring God in every part of life, including what we put in our bodies.

3. Holiness in How We Handle Our Emotions

Another area we don’t often talk about?

Let’s be real—people do dumb things. And sometimes, you have every right to be angry. But Ephesians 4:26-27 reminds us:

“Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.”

Holiness is choosing the way of the Word of God over the way of your feelings. You might feel like holding onto that grudge, staying bitter, or exploding in rage. But holiness says, “I’ll forgive when I don’t feel like it.”

4. Your Eye Gate—What Are You Watching?

I used to be a TV show addict. I prided myself on knowing every trending show. I thought, It’s just entertainment, it’s not that deep. I was consuming hours of entertainment filled with lust, violence, rebellion, witchcraft, and godless values. And I didn’t see a problem.

Then, God convicted me.

Matthew 6:22 says:

“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light.”

Holiness means being set apart even in what we watch. If we constantly feed ourselves unclean content, we can’t expect to be full of light. What we consume shapes our thoughts, desires, and actions.

At first, I struggled. My “taste buds” were so used to worldly entertainment that Godly content felt boring. But over time, God changed my appetite. Now, I crave things that align with Him.

5. Grace Empowers Us To Be Holy

Here’s the key—holiness isn’t about striving in our own strength. It’s about leaning on grace.

“But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness.” —Romans 6:22

Grace is not a license to live however we want and say, God knows my heart. No! Grace empowers us to live holy. Jesus didn’t just save us from sin; He saved us into a new way of life.

Final Charge: Live Set Apart

Holiness is not just for pastors, church leaders, or “super spiritual” people. It’s for everyone who calls Jesus Lord.

Holiness is not just about the “big sins”—it’s about everyday choices. It’s about:

✔ How you think

✔ How you speak

✔ How you treat others

✔ How you use your time

✔ What you watch, listen to, and engage in

It’s about choosing God’s ways over culture’s trends or worldly values.

So, I leave you with this challenge: Be holy. Be set apart. In your thoughts, your habits, your relationships, your daily decisions.. Holiness is not just a Sunday thing—it’s a lifestyle. And the beautiful thing? As we walk in holiness, we experience more of God’s power, grace, and presence in our lives.

So, will you answer the call? Will you choose holiness today?