Category Archives: Spiritual Growth

Spiritual Growth

Transformed to Triumph

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Living the New Self in Christ

“Put on the new self, the regenerated and renewed nature, created in God’s image, godlike in the righteousness and holiness of the truth.” (Ephesians 4:24, AMP)

Beloved, God does not improve the old; He makes all things new. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NASB) The command to put on the New Self in Christ calls us to shed yesterday’s grave-clothes and step into robes woven by grace. What once defined us—failure, shame, and sin—no longer speaks the final word. Yeshua speaks a better word, one of cleansing, adoption, and holy identity.

The accuser still prowls, rehearsing our past. Yet Scripture silences him: “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1, AMP) Each charge against us met its death at the cross. You need not negotiate with darkness; resist it. “Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7, NASB) Standing firm in the New Self in Christ, we fight from victory, not for it.

Transformation, however, is more than pardon; it is daily participation in divine life. Jesus calls, “Abide in Me, and I in you…for apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4-5, NASB) Communion fuels change. As we linger before His face, the Holy Spirit realigns thoughts, reshapes desires, and reorders loves. Hollow religion checks boxes, but the New Self in Christ pursues intimate union—“more of Him, less of us.”

God’s discipline also shapes us. “For the Lord disciplines those He loves.” (Hebrews 12:6, AMP) When correction comes, yield quickly. The Father’s pruning knife removes what limits fruitfulness. Soon the very wounds He cleansed will bloom with perseverance, humility, and joy. Chastening is never rejection; it is proof of belonging.

At times resistance you feel is not discipline but warfare. The thief aims to steal confidence and mute testimony. Lift the shield of faith; declare God’s promises aloud. “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” (Revelation 12:11, NASB) Your story of redemption echoes heaven’s verdict and drives despair into retreat.

Seeing Christ clearly empowers holy living. John beheld Him among the lampstands, eyes like fire and face shining like the sun. (Revelation 1:13-16) Ask the Spirit to paint that portrait on your heart until every lesser image fades. Beholding births becoming. “We all…beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory.” (2 Corinthians 3:18, NASB) The New Self in Christ flourishes when vision of His glory remains vivid.

Walking in newness also restores purpose. God prepared works beforehand so we would walk in them (Ephesians 2:10). Step into those assignments with courage. Let compassion guide deeds, truth anchor words, and hope brighten presence. The world longs for authentic witnesses who embody righteousness and holiness without pride. Show them what grace can produce.

Dependence marks every moment. “His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness.” (2 Peter 1:3, NASB) You lack nothing necessary for victory. Draw daily from Christ’s fullness through prayer, Scripture, and fellowship. Spiritual drought ends where living water is welcomed.

Finally, press on with expectation. “He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6, NASB) The Artist will finish His masterpiece. Until then, keep putting on the New Self in Christ, rejoicing that sanctification is certain, not optional. The Spirit’s fire will refine and reveal the beauty of holiness.

You tore the veil, ignited night,
You breathed on dust and dreams took flight;
Now frame my life with heaven’s hue,
Until all I am looks just like You.

Prayer

Father, I lay aside every weight and sin. Clothe me in the New Self in Christ. Holy Spirit, reveal Yeshua’s glory, uproot compromise, and empower obedience. Make my life a living testimony that draws many to Your throne of grace. Amen.

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Spiritual Growth

The In Between

Faithful When the Role Fades

What Is The In Between?

The In Between is that quiet, often painful season when your role in ministry or service fades—but no new assignment has come. You used to serve actively, maybe even visibly. You saw what needed to be done and stepped in. But over time, others took over. You offered to help, but were turned away. Now you wait, uncertain, unseen.

This is not failure. This is not rejection. The In Between is God’s sacred pause, where He prepares your heart for what’s next.

God Sees You in The In Between

Even if man doesn’t see you, God always sees. He is El Roi, the God who saw Hagar in the wilderness (Genesis 16:13). When your help is no longer received, and your hands feel empty, remember this: God hasn’t forgotten you.

“Your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:4, NASB)

Many of God’s greatest servants walked through The In Between.

  • Joseph was faithful in prison before being promoted to Pharaoh’s palace.
  • Moses spent 40 hidden years in Midian before returning to lead Israel.
  • Even Yeshua walked through 40 days in the wilderness before His public ministry began.

The pattern is clear: before the release comes the refining.

When Your Role Fades, Let Your Faith Rise

The In Between is not the time to retreat or complain. It’s the time to press into God. Your value was never in a position—it was always in your identity as a servant of El Shaddai.

“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord and not for people.” (Colossians 3:23, NASB)

When no one calls on you, call on Him. When the tasks are given to others, pray for them. When the door closes, worship at the threshold. God sees your heart more than your output.

Don’t Miss the Purpose of The In Between

God may be pruning you—not punishing you.

“Every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.” (John 15:2, NASB)

This is your altar season. A time to offer Him the unseen moments. To lay down pride, offense, and fear. To choose humility when your gift isn’t received. To grow deeper when the spotlight is gone.

If you walk through The In Between with patience and faith, you will emerge with more maturity, more power, and a deeper love for God.

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When silence grows, and roles dissolve,
Still I will wait, though none resolve.
The whisper stirs where crowds have gone,
And there I find You, El Elyon.

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Final Encouragement

If you’re in The In Between, you are not stuck—you are being sanctified. You are not dismissed—you are being developed. Keep showing up. Keep seeking the face of God. Keep your heart clean and your spirit ready.

God is not done with you. He is just getting started.

Prayer for Those in The In Between

Heavenly Father, I surrender this quiet season to You. If You have hidden me, let me worship in the shadow. If others reject my offer to serve, help me to love anyway. Teach me to wait without bitterness, to pray without being seen, and to trust that You will move me again in Your perfect timing. Make The In Between a place of deep growth and quiet strength. In Yeshua’s name, amen.

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Devotion to God, Spiritual Growth

Guard Your Heart and Seek God’s Presence

In a world filled with distractions, it’s easy for our hearts to become burdened by things that pull us away from God. But as believers, we are called to guard our hearts, seek His face, and pursue His presence above all else. Guard your heart and seek God’s presence continually. If we are not intentional, we may find ourselves drifting—settling for what is good instead of pressing into God’s best.

Why Guarding Your Heart Matters

Scripture reminds us:

“Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.” – Proverbs 4:23 (NASB)

Everything we do flows from the condition of our hearts. If we allow sin, distractions, or discouragement to take root, our faith can become weak. But when we guard our hearts—aligning them with God’s Word and seeking His presence—we walk in the abundant life He has promised. Guard your heart and seek God’s presence to maintain a strong, unwavering faith.

The enemy wants to fill your heart with doubt, fear, and compromise. He wants you to believe that the things of this world will satisfy you. But the truth is, only God can fill the deep hunger of your soul. That’s why we must be vigilant, continually surrendering our hearts to Him.

Seek God’s Face, Not Just His Blessings

Too often, we focus on seeking God’s hand—His provision, His guidance, His blessings. But true fulfillment comes from seeking His face.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6 (NASB)

God doesn’t just want to direct your steps—He wants a relationship with you. When we prioritize His presence, everything else falls into place.

Think about the moments when you’ve felt closest to God. Were they when everything was perfect, or were they when you were desperate for Him? Often, the deepest encounters with God come when we remove distractions and press into His presence.

Follow the Voice of the Good Shepherd

“My sheep listen to My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” – John 10:27 (NASB)

God is always speaking, but are we listening? If your heart feels heavy, if you sense a shift in your spirit, take time to seek His voice. He may be calling you into a new season, asking you to let go of something that no longer aligns with His purpose for you.

Don’t settle for what is comfortable—pursue His best. Guard your heart and seek God’s presence, for God’s ways are higher than ours, and even when we don’t understand, we can trust Him completely.

Seasons Change, But God’s Presence Remains

“There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every matter under heaven.” – Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NASB)

Every believer walks through different seasons—times of growth, rest, pruning, and preparation. If you feel a shift in your heart, don’t resist it. Bring it before the Lord and trust that He is leading you for a reason.

This is your time to draw near. Guard your heart and seek God’s presence. Let nothing pull you away from His presence. Seek Him with all your heart, and He will meet you in ways you never imagined.

Final Encouragement

God is calling you deeper. Guard your heart, listen for His voice, and pursue His presence relentlessly. The more you seek Him, the more you will find Him. Guard your heart and seek God’s presence. He is your greatest reward.

If this encouraged you, share it with someone who needs to be reminded to seek God first. Let’s pursue His presence together!

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Spiritual Growth

True Holiness: More Than a Life Change

Beloved, do not be deceived—God has not called you to mere outward change, but to inward transformation. Many leave behind the obvious sins of the world, yet unknowingly exchange them for subtler, but just as deadly, sins. They forsake drunkenness but indulge in spiritual pride. They abandon lawlessness but embrace legalism. They turn from impurity but become judgmental toward those who still struggle.

Holiness Is Not Just a Life Change

This is not holiness—it is deception.

Holiness is not about appearing righteous before men but about being truly set apart for God. “Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship” (Romans 12:1). Not a sacrifice of words alone, not a shift in outward behavior, but a full surrender of your very being. Anything less is religion without power—an illusion of godliness without the fire of God’s presence.

Have You Truly Changed? Or Just Relocated?

The danger is this: we think we have been delivered, when in truth we have only moved from one prison to another. Imagine a man who has lived in filth his whole life, dwelling in a pit of mud. One day, he hears of a beautiful palace where people live clean and respectable lives. Longing for something better, he climbs out of the pit and moves into the palace. But instead of washing, he merely changes his clothes.

He looks clean. He walks among noblemen. But inwardly, he is the same man—still carrying the stench of his past.

So it is with many believers. They leave behind the filth of the world and enter into religious circles, surrounding themselves with others who look holy. But their hearts remain unchanged. They have moved locations, but they have not been transformed.

The Pharisees did this. Yeshua rebuked them, saying, “You clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of self-indulgence” (Matthew 23:25 NASB). Outwardly, they appeared righteous. Inwardly, they were filled with pride, hypocrisy, and spiritual death.

Have you done the same? Have you left behind the sins of your past, only to embrace the sins of the religious? Have you exchanged rebellion for self-righteousness? Lust for spiritual arrogance? Worldly ambition for the love of man’s approval?

Holiness is not about where you stand—it is about who you are before God.

True Holiness: Surrendering All Sin

Do not bring only some of your sins to the altar. Bring them all. It is easy to surrender the sins we despise, but true holiness requires that we lay down even the sins we secretly love.

  • You may have repented of lying, but do you still gossip?
  • You may have abandoned immorality, but do you still hold bitterness in your heart?
  • You may no longer steal, but do you rob God of your full surrender?

God does not desire partial holiness—He desires your entire life to be set apart for Him. The fire of God does not come to warm you; it comes to consume you. Either you are fully His, or you are deceiving yourself.

Stop Managing Sin—Be Transformed

Too many believers try to manage sin instead of being delivered from it. They discipline themselves into better habits, suppressing certain desires, but they never allow the Holy Spirit to fully transform them. They white-knuckle their way through self-control, never experiencing true freedom.

But Yeshua did not die to modify your behavior—He died to make you new.

“If anyone is in Messiah, he is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Do you believe this? Or are you still trying to improve what should be crucified?

Holiness is not about doing better—it is about dying to self and allowing the Spirit of God to make you new. Stop striving in your own strength. Lay yourself on the altar and let the fire of God consume what is not of Him.

A Prayer for True Holiness

Let this be the cry of your heart:

Abba, I do not want an illusion of holiness—I want to be truly holy. Search me and know me. Show me the sins I have excused, the idols I have clung to, the self-righteousness I have hidden behind. I lay them down now. Holy Spirit, consume everything in me that is not of You. Let me not be satisfied with mere religious change—make me new. Transform me into the image of Yeshua, that I may walk in true holiness before You. In His name, amen.

Beloved, now go. Be holy, for He who called you is holy.

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Spiritual Growth

Comfort in His Care

In Psalm 23:4 (AMP), David declares, “Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me.” These two instruments—the rod and the staff—carry deep spiritual symbolism that reveals the fullness of God’s care for His people. Both tools, common to shepherds in ancient Israel, display God’s dual nature as both a Protector and Guide, bringing comfort in His care.

The Rod – Symbol of Protection and Authority

The rod was a short, heavy club, crafted to defend the flock against predators. In a spiritual sense, the rod symbolizes God’s power and authority. It represents His fierce protection over His people. Just as a shepherd would strike down a lion or bear threatening his sheep, so God wields His authority to shield us from the enemy’s attacks, giving us comfort in His care.

The rod also served as a tool of discipline. When a sheep wandered too close to danger, the shepherd would use the rod to correct its path. This correction wasn’t born from anger but from love. God disciplines those He loves (Hebrews 12:6). His rod ensures we don’t drift from safety into destruction. When we feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit, it is the loving tap of God’s rod, calling us back to the path of life and providing us comfort in His care.

But the rod is also a symbol of examination. In ancient times, shepherds would use the rod to part the wool of their sheep, inspecting for wounds or parasites. This act of careful inspection ensured the health of the flock. In the same way, God searches our hearts (Psalm 139:23-24), removing anything that could harm our spiritual health. His rod comforts us because it assures us that He sees, He knows, and He cares.

The Staff – Symbol of Guidance and Support

The staff, distinguished by its long slender shape and curved hook, was used to guide and rescue sheep. The shepherd would gently place the staff against the sheep’s side, directing it along the right path. If a sheep fell into a crevice or became tangled in thorns, the shepherd would use the staff’s hook to lift it out and bring it back to safety, showing comfort in His care.

This image beautifully reflects the gentle guidance of God’s Spirit. He does not drive His sheep but leads them. He does not force but invites. He does not abandon but rescues. When we stray, He reaches for us. When we are stuck, He lifts us out. His staff reminds us that He is always near, lovingly leading us along paths of righteousness and providing comfort in His care.

The staff also symbolizes comfort. A sheep that felt the gentle nudge of the staff knew the shepherd was close. In our darkest valleys, the presence of God’s guiding hand becomes our deepest comfort. His nearness dispels fear. The staff assures us that we are not alone, even when shadows surround us, offering us comfort in His care.

The Comfort of the Rod and Staff

David says, “they comfort me.” Why? Because the rod and staff together encompass the fullness of God’s shepherding care. The rod assures us of God’s power to protect—from external enemies and from the sin within us. The staff assures us of God’s faithfulness to guide—gently leading us back when we falter, lifting us when we fall.

Together, they represent God’s steadfast commitment to His people. He will not let harm overtake us, nor will He let us wander without pursuit. His rod confronts our enemies, while His staff comforts our hearts, ensuring we find comfort in His care.

Living Under the Shepherd’s Care

To be comforted by God’s rod and staff is to live under His loving authority and guidance. It is to trust His correction, knowing it leads to life. It is to embrace His guidance, even when the path is uncertain. It is to rest in the assurance that the Good Shepherd lays down His life for His sheep (John 10:11).

And when we walk through the valleys—those shadowed, fearsome places where death seems near—we can walk without dread, for our Shepherd is near. His rod and staff go before us, behind us, and beside us. They remind us that we are seen, known, and defended, finding comfort in His care.

Father, thank You for being our Shepherd, for holding the rod to protect and the staff to guide. Teach us to trust Your correction and follow Your leading. When we stray, draw us back. When we falter, lift us up. Let Your nearness be our comfort, especially in dark valleys. Help us walk in confidence, knowing that You are always with us, protecting and guiding us, bringing us comfort in Your care. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

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