There’s a popular Christian song (You Say by Lauren Daigle) that has broken records for its time at number one on the charts. The lyrics speak of fighting voices that say “I’m not enough,” of lies that tell us we’ll “never measure up,” and of finding our worth and identity in what God says about us. The song resonates deeply because it captures the experience of many believers today—struggling with feelings of inadequacy despite knowing the truth of Scripture.
We live in an age where anxiety, depression, and hopelessness are reported at unprecedented levels. The constant bombardment of worldly thinking through media and technology is shaping our minds at an ever-increasing rate. Meanwhile, biblical literacy has reached an all-time low, leaving many without the tools to combat the lies they’re facing.
But here’s what’s particularly puzzling: even among believers who have all the right theological understandings—those who know they’re justified by faith, totally forgiven, eternally secure, part of the Body of Christ rather than Israel, under grace rather than law, and made new creatures in Christ—many still struggle profoundly with addiction, anxiety, sexual sin, hatred, and depression.
Why is this the case?
The Magic Pill Misconception
Consider 1 Thessalonians 2:13, which tells us that God’s Word “effectually worketh also in you that believe.” This is absolutely true and powerful. However, we sometimes treat verses like this as magic pills—as if simply believing hard enough will instantly eliminate all our struggles. We’ve unintentionally created the impression that if you’re still battling with sin or emotional turmoil, you must not really be believing the verses.
But that’s not how God’s transformative work operates. It’s a process, not an instantaneous switch.
Understanding Your New Heart
Here’s a revolutionary truth that changes everything: you have a new heart, and your core issue has been settled through the cross of Jesus Christ.
Galatians 4:6 tells us that “God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.” Think about that. God the Holy Spirit dwells in your heart—not in your head, but in your heart. He’s there right now, crying out to the Father on your behalf.
The old heart described in Jeremiah 17:9 as “deceitful above all things”? That’s not you anymore if you’re saved. God, the Holy Spirit, has taken up residence in your heart. You don’t have a heart problem anymore.
In Romans 8:15-16, we see something remarkable: “ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” The Holy Spirit is actively bearing witness with your spirit every single day—whether you feel it or not, whether you’re aware of it or not.
The Real Battleground: Your Mind
If your heart is settled and the Holy Spirit dwells there, what needs transformation? Romans 12:2 gives us the answer: “be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
Your mind is what’s in process. Your mind is what needs daily renewal. Your heart—your inner man where the Holy Spirit dwells—is already right with God. The transformation happens as your thinking aligns with the reality of who you already are in Christ.
Romans 7:22-23 describes this tension: “For I delight in the law of God after the inner man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind.” The renewed mind is meant to become the new master of the carnal brain, transforming it into a servant of righteousness.
Uploading, Not Downloading
Here’s a paradigm shift: we’re not trying to download doctrine from our heads into our hearts. We’re actually uploading the truth of what’s already in our hearts (where the Holy Spirit dwells) into our heads through the renewing of our minds.
Our hearts are already far ahead of our heads because God the Holy Spirit resides there. Consider these truths:
- The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5)
- God has sealed us and given us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts (2 Corinthians 1:22)
- The Spirit cries “Abba, Father” from within our hearts (Galatians 4:6)
Every morning you wake up, the Holy Spirit is in your heart crying, “Abba, Father.” Every day, He’s bearing witness with your spirit that you’re a child of God. Every moment, He’s making intercession for you with groanings that cannot be uttered (Romans 8:26).
The Holy Spirit isn’t waiting for you to give Him permission to work. He’s already actively advocating for you, regardless of what you’re doing in your flesh.
From Heart and Head to Hands
When you understand who you are at your core (your heart) and align your thinking with that reality (your head), something beautiful happens: your hands get busy with the ministry.
The transformation process allows you to:
- Practice “one-anothering”—being kindly affectioned to one another (Romans 12:10)
- Edify others instead of judging them (Romans 14:13, 19)
- Serve others in love (Galatians 5:13)
- Do the will of God from the heart (Ephesians 6:6)
You can form new, godly addictions. Scripture speaks of believers who “addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints” (1 Corinthians 16:15). Not all addictions have to be negative. Through a renewed mind, you can develop positive, godly patterns that serve both yourself and others.
The Testing Will Come
Here’s a guarantee: everything you learn about your identity in Christ will be tested. The testing might come through difficult relationships, frustrating circumstances, or old temptations. When it comes, you’ll face a choice: Do I believe what God’s Word says about who I am?
That’s your opportunity to choose to operate out of your new identity rather than your old patterns. It’s not about perfection—it’s about progress. It’s about recognizing that you’re in process, that your mind is being renewed, and that the Holy Spirit is actively working in you every single day.
The Christian life isn’t about trying harder to be someone you’re not. It’s about understanding who you already are in Christ and allowing that truth to transform how you think and act. Your heart is already settled. Now it’s time to renew your mind and let your hands get busy with the work God has prepared for you.
Pastor Bryan Ross
Grace Life Bible Church
Grand Rapids, MI
Friday, January 2, 2026
Resources For Further Study
Head, Heart, & Hands: Serving God from the Heart (YouTube Video)