How do you want to receive new things from God if you remain the old man?
No, our attitudes do not change God. His character is something permanent and solid. But our actions directly interfere with everything we receive from the Father. Not because we influence His power, but because we impede the miracle and blessings in our lives by being full of ourselves. We leave no room for the will of God.
Empty yourself
“For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.”
Galatians 5:17
In some of the texts I wrote here for the blog, I commented on how the actions of people at the time of Jesus prevented them from living profound experiences with God, prevented them from enjoying the presence of Christ.
A very simple and quick explanation related to this is that God is not going to put new wine in an old wineskin.
If we live a life for our desires, without emptying ourselves, we don’t make room for the new. Even if God poured out His new on us, the blessing would turn into something bad because it was in the wrong hands.
Renew yourself
“Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”
Matthew 9:17
There is no point in having a new and good wine if it is placed in an old and dirty wineskin. Good wine won’t make it a new wineskin. The drink cannot transform it into a luxury vessel, but the wineskin has the power to spoil the drink. Not being able to support fermentation, the old wineskin can rupture and let the drink leak , causing damage.
Do you understand why God transforms you first and then deposits on you the miracle He dreamed of?
If God doesn’t renew you first as a recipient, you won’t know how to make the most of everything he will deposit in you. The drink will leak. You will not know how to withhold it in a healthy and wise way.
More than understanding where God will take us and what He will give us, we need to realize who we are becoming on the journey.
Fill yourself with Him
“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires. To be made new in the attitude of your minds. And to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Ephesians 4:22-24
We constantly want to understand the way. We incessantly ask that God give us destiny, but much more than trusting the place where He is going to take us, do we know who we are becoming?
Forging moments are painful, but they always transform matter into something of greater value. High pressures and temperatures transform carbon, simple graphite, into diamond. What was once found in a cheap pencil becomes something valuable. This is due to the difference in the production process.
Replace: “Why doesn’t God give me what I ask for?”, For: “What is missing in me so that the Lord can fulfill His dreams in my life?”.
More than closeness, He wants intimacy. Intimacy so that your ears become sensitive to store up and your eyes opened to see. He wants you completely, emptying yourself, giving every part of your life for His work to be done. Worship even when He doesn’t answer, pray when He doesn’t deliver what you are asking for, and trust that He is molding you in the secret so that you can store up with discernment the new wine He wants to pour over you. Become a new wineskin!
