God Works in You

1 October 2026

Sanctification is not something you accomplish in your own strength. God works within you. Mike reminded us that “We work out what God is working in.” That truth keeps us from two dangerous ditches. We can become like Carl, who expects God to do everything while he remains spiritually passive. Or we can become like Tanya, who depends entirely on her own effort and becomes exhausted by her failures. Scripture gives us something better. Paul says, “For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose.” God does not leave His children to figure out holiness alone. He works within us.

God begins His work by changing our hearts. Ezekiel 36:26 says, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you.” Before Christ, our hearts naturally resist God. But when He saves us, He gives us new desires. We begin to hunger for His Word. We begin to hate the sin we once enjoyed. We begin to desire holiness. We want to worship. We want to serve His people. We want to become more like Christ. These desires do not give us grounds for boasting. They reveal the gracious work of God. Mike asked, “The longings, the desires that you have for God… where did that come from?” His answer is clear. God put them there.

Romans 6 describes this transformation as obedience that comes from the heart. We were once slaves to sin, but now we have “become obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were entrusted.” Mike said, “God, the master cardiologist, has performed a spiritual heart surgery upon you, Christian.” That is a powerful picture. God does not merely change our outward behaviour. He changes what we love. He changes what we want. He gives us His Holy Spirit and begins renovating every part of our lives. That means your desire to read Scripture, your longing to pray, your concern about sin, and your desire to love other Christians are all reasons to thank God.

So take time today to notice the evidence of God’s work in you. Do not only focus on how far you still have to go. Thank God for every sign of spiritual life. Then bring one sinful desire honestly before Him. Ask Him to reshape it. Bring one godly desire before Him and ask Him to strengthen it. Teach your children that Christian obedience is not merely behaving well when someone is watching. God changes the heart so that His people increasingly want what pleases Him. Your children need to see that holiness flows from a heart changed by grace. God works within you. Depend on Him. Then get to work.

Father, thank You for giving me a new heart and putting Your Spirit within me. Thank You for every desire You have created in me that draws me toward Your Word, Your people, and holiness. Forgive me for sinful desires that still compete for my heart. Reshape what I want. Strengthen what is good. Teach me to depend on Your Spirit while faithfully obeying Your Word. Help me show my family that true obedience begins within. Make me more like Christ, and let the work You are doing in me become increasingly visible in the way I live. Amen.

Watch the sermon here.

This devotional content is not penned by the preacher. It is derived from the sermon. We aim to provide bite-sized reflections throughout the week for devotion and reflection.