But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:3 (NKJV) When God made Adam and Eve, He made them in His likeness and image, which means they were like Him. They were His kids. But Eve was deceived into thinking something else. The devil wanted Eve to think she lacked something that could only be found by disobeying God. First he questioned her, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” (Genesis 3:1, NLT). Eve clarified that there was only one tree they were not to eat because that fruit would cause them to die. …

God’s promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it… For only we who believe can enter his rest. Hebrews 4:1,3 (NLT) What is God’s rest? And what prevents some from experiencing it? The more we grasp that our salvation through Jesus is a gift, the more we experience God’s rest. Jesus’ sacrifice has freed us from trying to earn our salvation through works. Think about it—trying to “be better” on our own can feel futile. Continually striving to defeat harmful habits or attain inner peace by our own strength is exhausting. In fact, it makes our hearts sick (Proverbs 13:12)! We are all works in progress, but there is freedom …

Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Romans 12:2 (NLT) Many born-again believers experience an inner struggle even with Jesus in their spirit. Why? It happens when our hearts and minds aren’t being renewed to align with our new, Christ-filled spirit. Look at it this way. Let’s say you decided to purchase a huge company. It comes with thousands of employees and old policies and procedures. As the new owner, can you move that company in a new direction? Yes! However, your first job will be to win over all the employees to the new way you want things done. Why? Because all the employees are trained with …

And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NLT) Healthy relationships change us. For example, I was head over heels in love when I married Sally. Yet almost forty years later, I look back and realize I barely knew what love was. The degree that I loved Sally then, versus how much I love her now, is almost incomparable! Our relationship with God is the same way. It is not an instantaneous event where we give our lives to Christ and immediately reach spiritually maturity. It’s a journey! Think of it like farming—as we study God’s Word, take His truths to heart and learn to apply His principles to our …

Some believers wrestle with constant internal conflict. Their recreated spirits are shouting, “I’m a born again, spirit-filled child of the King!” Yet their thoughts continually counter that truth with misbeliefs like, “Everyone is smarter than me. I’m still not good enough.” What’s causing the problem? Their hearts and minds need renewal in the Word of God. You see, losing the joy of your salvation or failing to overcome temptation is not a reflection of your born-again status nor is it a condition of your new spirit. It’s a heart condition. Christ’s life, healing, and joy fill your born-again spirit, but your heart beliefs either prohibit or allow you to walk out all you have been given in Christ. The solution lies in learning and applying …