For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you. Luke 17:21 (NKJV) Change what’s going on in you and the outside changes effortlessly. We put all this effort into trying to change our outward tendencies and behaviour. Meanwhile, Jesus said that the kingdom of God is within you. It doesn’t work to keep trying to change the outside without changing the inside. You can work on your habits all you want, but as soon as you relax control over your focus, you’ll deviate back to what you truly believe on the inside. For example, let’s pretend you suffer from low self-esteem. You’ve heard that you should think and say good things about yourself, so you start trying to replace negative thoughts with positive ones. Every time …

When sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. James 1:15 (NLT) Sin is awful. When you allow yourself to do what you know is wrong, it brings death—in your relationships, health, mind and emotions. God doesn’t pull away from you when you sin, but you pull away from God. In this way, sin also destroys your ability to enjoy and experience your relationship with Him. Just look at what sin did to Adam in the Garden of Eden. Before he disobeyed, Adam walked and talked with God daily. After he sinned, he became instantly fearful and ashamed. God came looking for Adam but Adam hid from God. God isn’t going to punish you for your mess-ups, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t going …

Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17 (AMPC) It can be fun to analyze each other’s tendencies and compare personality tests. We feel closer to people if we think we can get inside their heads. Although we can assume a lot about people’s future choices by past ones, we have to remember that we’re only looking at their behaviour. We can’t assume to know their motives and intentions. And we definitely can’t use behaviour to define someone’s identity. Yet, people do it all the time. Parents have to be especially careful about this. Parents …

Put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts…put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22, 24 (NKJV) Many people work hard, hoping that they’ll one day be good enough to get in on God’s love. But the truth is, we can never be perfect enough! And thankfully, we don’t have to be. Jesus was perfect for us, and we receive the acceptance He earned when we decide to trust in Him. When we make that decision, we receive a “new nature…created in God’s image” (Ephesians 4:24, AMP). Do you know what this means? You are not who you used to be. I’m not saying that you suddenly become a perfect angel …

We are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. Romans 8:16–17 (NLT) In the Middle Ages, sons and daughters of kings lived a very different life than peasants did. They enjoyed all the rights and privileges of being royalty without earning any of it. Even if they forgot who they were, it didn’t change the fact that royalty was in their blood—it was part of their identity. Imagine if a king’s son was raised in a peasant’s home. He would live like a peasant, unaware of his birthright. And that’s exactly how many believers live today. We are God’s children, and He is the “eternal King” (Jeremiah 10:10, NLT)… but we go through life forgetting who we are. We don’t have to …