Tag: Trust

The Life Shaped by the Spirit

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RICHARD CORDER

Have you ever seen someone trying to build a life with God through rules or by trusting their own efforts? Their effort leads to pressure, fear, or a sense of never doing enough. The message of the gospel is different. It teaches that new life comes through the Spirit of God, not through human effort. The Spirit changes the heart, gives new desires, and leads a person into a way of living that the old nature cannot produce.

Relying on the law for salvation is a burden no one can carry. IRS Images, 2025

Some early believers struggled with this truth. They were taught that faith in Christ was not enough, and that they also needed to follow the laws of Moses to be accepted by God. They were told that salvation depended on certain rituals, dietary rules, and old covenant practices. These teachers believed that people needed to become Jewish before they could truly belong to Christ. But this idea weakened the message of the gospel and placed a heavy burden on those who were new in the faith.

The teaching of Scripture sheds light on this. No one is made right with God by following the law. The law shows the standard of God, but it also shows how far people fall short. No person has ever kept the law perfectly. Because of this, the law cannot save. Instead, it reveals the need for a Saviour.

Christ lived the life no one else could live. He fulfilled every requirement of the law. His obedience was complete, and his sacrifice was without fault. At the cross he paid for sin fully, taking the judgment that should have fallen on others. His obedience and his sacrifice together form the basis of salvation. When a person places faith in Christ, his righteousness is counted to them. Nothing needs to be added to it. To trust Christ and then add human effort as a safeguard takes away from the finished work he has already done.

At the cross, at the cross Where I first saw the light, And the burden of my heart rolled away, It was there by faith I received my sight, And now I am happy all the day!

Once a person trusts in Christ, the Holy Spirit enters that life. His presence is not noisy or dramatic, but his effect is real. The Spirit brings change in desires, change in direction, and a new hunger for the things of God. Old habits lose their appeal. Sin becomes heavier on the conscience. The heart begins to want what God wants. This is not something a person can create by force. It is the work of God within.

Walking in the Spirit means living in step with this new direction. It means letting the Spirit guide choices, attitudes, and daily actions. A person cannot do this if they ignore the word of God, because the Spirit uses the word to teach, correct, and shape the heart. To be filled with the Spirit is closely tied to being filled with Scripture. Time in the word, prayer, and disciplined devotion strengthens the inner life and helps the believer stay alert to God’s leading.

Holiness does not happen without effort. It grows as a person builds habits that point the heart toward God: steady reading of Scripture, faithful prayer, worship, time with other believers, and the practice of obedience in ordinary moments. The Spirit uses all of these things to form character and sharpen spiritual understanding. When mistakes or sins occur, the Spirit brings conviction, and repentance restores the heart again.

There is a constant tension between the old nature and the new work of the Spirit. The flesh pulls one way while the Spirit pulls another. This conflict is normal for the believer. It is a sign that the Spirit is present. The way to resist the pull of the flesh is not through rigid self-effort but through walking closely with the Spirit. When the Spirit leads, the power of the flesh weakens. When the flesh is ignored, the Spirit’s influence becomes stronger.

A life guided by the Spirit is not passive. It is a daily choice to give God the first place rather than the leftovers of time or energy. It is a life that seeks to please God not out of fear but out of gratitude for what Christ has already done. The Spirit makes this possible. He strengthens, comforts, teaches, and directs. He keeps the believer moving toward holiness and keeps the heart anchored in the truth that salvation rests on Christ alone.

If we live by the Spirit, let’s follow the Spirit as well.

Galatians 5:25

Living with confidence in God’s promise

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CONNIE WILLIAMS

We can approach God like a child approaches his father. Our sins lie on the ground like a broken chain. IRS Images, 2025

Fear does not help love grow. If someone lived in fear that their partner might leave them for small mistakes, they could not feel close to them. They would be nervous all the time. In the same way, a person cannot feel close to God if they are always afraid He will push them away. The message of the Gospel gives a different picture. Those who trust in Jesus can know they are held safe by Him. This confidence does not encourage wrong behaviour. It encourages obedience because believers know God is a loving Father, not someone waiting for them to fail.

Jesus said that His followers belong to Him and that no one can pull them from His care. If a believer could still end up in hell after trusting Jesus, it would damage the honour of Christ. He promised eternal life, and He keeps His promises. Knowing this gives believers courage to face hardship. They can remember that they belong to God, and that He will not let them go.

Christians are no longer under the control of sin. Sometimes people hear that they are only human and must give in to anger, revenge, or sexual sin. Some even believe it is unhealthy to show restraint. But the Bible teaches that Christians do not have to obey these desires. God accepts people as they are when they come to Jesus, but He does not leave them unchanged. The Holy Spirit begins shaping them into a new person.

When we walk with the Lord
in the light of his word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will,
he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.

To stay strong, Christians must remember what God has said. Verses like those that promise eternal life can help when doubt appears. Other verses help when temptation comes. Believers can choose to use their lives to serve good instead of evil. Remember: When Jesus covered our sins with His blood, he knew every sin you ever committed. He also knew every sin you would commit from that time on.

When Jesus faced temptation in the desert, He quoted Scripture each time. Satan did not run away because the verses harmed him. He left because he saw that God’s word strengthened Jesus to keep following His Father. That is what the word of God does. It gives strength to keep choosing what is right.

At the centre of all of this is a simple question: Do you know you belong to Jesus?

Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,

Colossians 2:6

Stepping into a new life shaped by trust

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MATTHEW JONES

Old and new forms of lighting, IRS Images, 2025

Light has always pushed back darkness, but the way people have lived with light has changed over time. Long before electric bulbs, homes were lit with kerosene lamps. They worked, but they were smoky, messy, and at times unsafe. When electricity arrived, some people resisted it because they could not see the power behind it. Others felt it was too bright or unnecessary. Yet once people accepted it, entire communities changed. Electricity did not simply improve the old system. It offered a completely different way to live.

This picture helps explain how many of us respond when God brings something new into our lives. We may ask for change, but when the change arrives, it often feels uncomfortable. We pray for new chances, and God gives new duties. We ask for peace, and old hurts rise to the surface so that healing can begin. We ask for open doors, and God prepares our hearts before opening anything at all. Growth often feels like shrinking and stretching at the same time. Before God expands our life, He works on our pride. Before He sends us outward, He shapes us inward. Every new season calls for a new version of who we are becoming.

We sometimes pray for joy, and God uses discomfort to expose what needs attention inside us. We ask Him to fix situations around us, and He starts by working on our reactions, habits, and patterns. We pray for purpose, and God sends interruptions that pull us out of our routines. We want His work to fit our old rhythm, but His new work does not sit well with our old ways. There is a pull inside each of us between what feels familiar and what leads to growth. At some point, what is familiar can get in the way of what is fruitful.

This tension is clear in the story found in Mark chapter 2. People questioned why Jesus’ followers did not fast like others. Fasting was not wrong, but the timing was wrong. They were trying to fit a good practice into a moment where it did not belong. Jesus used this to teach that He is the one who defines what is new and when it arrives.

He then gave two images. One was a torn piece of clothing. Sewing new cloth onto an old garment makes the tear worse because the new cloth shrinks. The other picture was of wine skins. New wine was still expanding. Old wine skins were stiff and could not stretch, so they would burst. The lesson was simple: new life from God needs a willing and flexible heart.

Have thine own way, Lord!
Have thine own way!
Thou art the potter,
I am the clay.
Mold me and make me
after thy will,
while I am waiting,
yielded and still.

In these images, “old” does not refer to age but to attitude. Old means unwilling to change. New means willing to be shaped by God. Some people who have lived many years remain open and teachable. Their hearts can stretch. Others, no matter their age, can grow rigid. A rigid spirit cannot hold the fresh work of God because His movement brings expansion. His question to us is simple: If He pours more into us, will we stretch?

Many people can look back and see how God has stretched them through responsibility, challenge, or service. These moments push us toward prayer, toward Scripture, and toward deeper love for others. They form new patterns inside us. When God stretches us, He is not punishing us. He is preparing us.

Jesus does not attach new life to old habits. He gives a new heart and a new spirit to those who receive Him. For anyone who has not placed their trust in Him, the first step is to admit the need for Him, believe in His life, death, and resurrection, and confess Him as Lord. This is how a person becomes able to carry what He wants to give.

For those who already follow Him, there is still a warning. It is possible to walk with Jesus for years and still become rigid if the relationship fades into routine. When prayer becomes an afterthought, the heart grows stiff. Prayer keeps us soft, teachable, and ready. It opens the door for God’s shaping work. It keeps us flexible enough to hold what He wants to pour into our lives.

Practicing simple daily prayer can help with this. A short morning surrender. A pause before reacting. A quiet moment to listen. Praying Scripture. The invitation is the same for all of us: to be willing, flexible, and open. To let God shape us so we can carry what He wants to give.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Learning to Wait on God’s Timing

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FLOYD ROGERS

Sometimes when people pray and ask God for help, they expect an answer right away. But when nothing happens for a long time, they begin to feel uneasy. Because the situation doesn’t change as quickly as they hope, they may try to take control and fix things on their own.

Some believe the saying, “God helps those who help themselves,” but this idea can be misleading. In reality, when we try to force things to happen outside of God’s timing, we often create more problems. Then, we turn to God again. This time we ask Him to fix the trouble we caused.

God doesn’t ask us to take matters into our own hands. Instead, He wants us to trust Him, obey His direction, and be patient as He works in our lives. His way may take longer, but it is always meant for our good.

Wait for the Lord;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the Lord.

Psalm 27:14

Think Before You Act, God’s Bigger Plan

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FLOYD ROGERS

When something upsetting happens, it’s easy to respond quickly without thinking. But before reacting, it’s important to pause and ask, “What might God be doing in this situation?” Looking at the bigger picture can help us make better choices.

Many people have ended up in difficult situations because they made decisions out of anger, hurt, or a desire for revenge. These decisions, whether dishonest, immoral, or simply emotional, can lead to long-lasting problems. In moments of frustration, it’s easy to choose what feels right in the moment, but those choices often come with serious consequences.

Instead of acting on impulse, we should take time to consider where our actions might lead. Asking ourselves what God’s purpose might be can help us avoid harm. God’s way is always the better way, even when it’s not the easiest one.

You know this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Now everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; for a man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness of God.

James 1:19-20