As we step into a season of elevation, it’s time for some serious pruning. This isn’t just about cutting away the dead weight; it’s about shedding our old, unhealthy patterns and making space for something greater. Ephesians 4:22-23 (NLT) reminds us to “throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.” It’s our responsibility to invite the Holy Spirit to help us transform into the person God has called us to be. He will help us renew our thoughts and attitudes by reminding us when we’re veering off the path of God’s purpose for our lives.

When we face those moments we swore we’d never repeat, it’s crucial to recognize the lessons wrapped in the pain. Every experience, even the tough ones, offers a chance for growth—a way to turn regret into resilience. It’s on us to allow the Holy Spirit to cultivate the soil of our souls, transforming our weaknesses into his vibrant and virtuous fruits. This is our moment to grow, to dig deep, and to become the individuals God has destined us to be.

Ephesians 1:4-5 (NLT) says “Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.” The most important aspect of our lives is our relationship with God. Our purpose is to walk in close fellowship with the Father, and often, our desires to go higher in blessings reveals where our relationship with Him needs to be tighter. When we reach a point of yearning for more in our lives, it’s not just the increase in blessings we should expect, but an increase in spiritual maturity as well.

God honors our desires when they align with His Will for our lives. 1 John 5:14-15 (NKJV) says, “14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” Aligning our desires with God’s Will requires making the privilege of pursuing Him our top priority. We’re not seeking Him just for what we can get; we should be seeking Him because He is our Creator, our Heavenly Father, and He deserves first place in our lives. Jesus Christ commanded us in Matthew 6:33 (NLT), “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” When we focus on Him, everything else falls into place, and we find that our true desires reflect His purpose for us.

When we desire blessings that are on the top shelf, so to speak, sometimes the spiritual strength to reach them must increase. We have to buckle down and commit to the process of humbling ourselves under the Spirit’s guidance as he teaches and helps us grow spiritually. This is in no way a burden, but a privilege to make our relationship with God stronger and more intimate. As 2 Peter 3:18 (NLT) reminds us, “Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” This is the foundation that allows us to handle the blessings we seek and to be a good steward of them.

In our posture of being teachable and guided, the Spirit often reveals areas in our souls that have blocked our faith from maturing and therefore, blocked our blessings. Proverbs 4:23 (NLT) says “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” We attract from the inside out, so the condition of our hearts greatly influences our lives, drawing circumstances that show us exactly where we are internally, and what we need to overcome. So, when we are made aware of these blockers that God reveals, we should be prepared for the possibility that they can bring us to our knees. An awareness of sin we had not dealt with will do that.

It’s a transformative process that leads to repentance, a place where we will say from the depths of our hearts, “I will NEVER do that again.” Receiving such a revelation plants that seed of a new way of thinking, it gives us a new heart towards God as the Psalmist said in Psalm 51:10 (NLT), “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.” This spiritual process of repentance and growth allows us to confidently turn our back on the inequity we’ve indulged. It also propels us forward to new levels of blessings and spiritual maturity.

“I will NEVER do that again” becomes a bold and authentic declaration when we truly grasp how our thoughts and actions can injure our relationship with the Father and keep us from blessings that we want most. When our genuine desire is to please Him, encountering a revelation about darkness in our hearts can feel like a gut punch. Yet, in that moment of clarity, we also find gratitude for the chance to hear directly from Him. Trusting His guiding hand as He corrects, restores, and elevates us is a privilege that conveys His commitment to our best interest. It’s a process that strengthens our relationship with Him, as it allows us to live in harmony with His Will for our lives. ■

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

“I Will NEVER Do That Again!, written by KLizzie, edited by Reverend Fran Mack, for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2024. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.