Kingdom Tension Part 10 Devotionals
Day 1: The Old Self Must Die
Devotional We all struggle with wanting to be the center of our own story. It’s human nature to view life through the lens of ‘how does this affect me?’ But God calls us to a radical transformation—one where we’re no longer the main character. In Galatians, Paul makes a profound statement about identity that challenges our natural inclinations. He declares that he has been crucified with Christ, meaning his old self-centered nature has died. This isn’t just poetic language. It’s a spiritual reality that we’re invited to embrace daily. The old self—the one that demands attention, insists on its own way, and places personal comfort above all else—must be put to death. This death isn’t a one-time event but a daily choice to surrender our self-importance at the foot of the cross. When we first come to Christ, we begin this journey of transformation. But the old self doesn’t go quietly. It resurfaces in moments of stress, conflict, or decision-making. The question becomes: will we yield to our old nature or embrace our new identity in Christ?
Bible Verse
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” – Galatians 2:20
Reflection Question
In what specific situations this week have you noticed your ‘old self’ trying to take center stage? How might those situations have looked different if you had approached them from your identity in Christ?
Quote “Every day, he’s saying, so that you can experience life as the new I that you were created to be. You have to lose that old life. You have to trust in the Lord and what he’s done and move into the new I. But it’s not easy. It’s easy to talk about, but it’s much harder to live out because it’s a daily battle.”
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for loving me enough to die for me. Help me recognize when my old self is trying to take control. Give me the courage to die to myself daily so that you might live more fully through me. Amen.
Day 2: The Daily Battle
Devotional The Christian life isn’t a smooth, upward trajectory of spiritual growth. It’s more like a daily wrestling match with our old nature. Even Paul, who wrote so eloquently about being crucified with Christ, acknowledged this ongoing struggle. Each morning when we wake up, our old self is ready to assert its dominance. It whispers that we deserve better treatment, that our opinions matter most, and that our comfort should be prioritized. These thoughts can feel so natural that we don’t even recognize them as contrary to our new identity in Christ. Jesus didn’t mince words about this reality. He told His followers that discipleship requires daily cross-bearing—a continual dying to self. The beautiful paradox is that in losing our self-centered life, we discover true life. When we surrender our need to be at the center, we find freedom and purpose beyond anything our old self could imagine. This battle isn’t fought through willpower alone. It’s won through moment-by-moment surrender, acknowledging our weakness and leaning into Christ’s strength.
Bible Verse
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Whoever wants to save their life will lose it. But whatever loses their life for me will find it.” – Matthew 16:24-25
Reflection Question
What is one area of your life where you find it most difficult to ‘deny yourself’? What might it look like to take up your cross in that specific situation today?
Quote “I think, honestly, every morning you’re going to battle with the old I. At least I still do. The old I pops up. My center of the story issues are there. It’s like it’s about me. How does it impact me? What about me? And there’s no life to be found there.”
Prayer
Father, I confess that I often try to preserve my old self rather than embracing the cross. Help me to see that true life is found in surrender. Give me courage to deny myself today, knowing that what I gain in You is far greater than what I lose. Amen.
Day 3: Yielding to the Spirit
Devotional Many of us secretly wish Christianity came with a simple rulebook. Just tell us exactly what to do in every situation, and we’ll do it! But God offers something far better—and admittedly more challenging—than a list of regulations. He gives us His Spirit to guide us from within. The Christian life isn’t primarily about rule-following; it’s about relationship. When we accept Christ, the Holy Spirit takes up residence in our hearts. This indwelling Spirit becomes our guide, counselor, and power source for transformation. Rather than consulting a manual of dos and don’ts, we learn to yield to His gentle promptings. Yielding means surrendering control. It means pausing before we react, taking a spiritual breath, and asking, “Spirit, how would you have me respond?” This practice doesn’t come naturally. Our old self prefers the certainty of rules to the vulnerability of relationship. But as we practice yielding, we discover a freedom and wisdom that no rulebook could provide. The Spirit’s guidance is perfectly tailored to each unique situation we face. Where rules are rigid, the Spirit is responsive. Where regulations can become burdensome, the Spirit brings life.
Bible Verse
“You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.” – Romans 8:9a
Reflection Question
Can you identify a recent situation where you responded automatically from your old nature? If you had paused to yield to the Spirit, how might your response have been different?
Quote “We have to yield to Holy Spirit so that we can walk life out is the new I.”
Prayer
Holy Spirit, forgive me for the times I’ve ignored Your guidance and relied on my own understanding. Help me to recognize Your voice and yield to Your direction. Teach me to pause before reacting so that Christ might live through me. Amen.
Day 4: Taking a Spiritual Breath
Devotional In moments of stress, conflict, or decision-making, our first reactions typically come from our old self. That initial surge of defensiveness, pride, or self-protection rises up before we even realize what’s happening. This is where the practice of “taking a spiritual breath” becomes essential. Just as physical breathing is automatic yet can be controlled with intention, our spiritual responses can move from automatic reactions to intentional actions. When faced with a triggering situation, we can learn to pause—to take that spiritual breath—before responding. In that pause, we create space for the Holy Spirit to guide us. We can ask ourselves: “Is what I’m about to say or do coming from my old self or my new identity in Christ? Is this response yielded to the Spirit?” This practice doesn’t mean we’ll always get it right. Sometimes we’ll take that breath too late, after the old self has already spoken. But with practice, that pause becomes more natural, and our ability to respond from our new identity strengthens. The beauty of this approach is that it works in any situation—from major life decisions to everyday interactions. The Spirit’s wisdom is available for all of life’s complexities.
Bible Verse
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” – Galatians 2:20
Reflection Question
What practical reminder could you create for yourself (a physical object, phone alert, etc.) to help you remember to “take a spiritual breath” before responding in challenging situations?
Quote “We just have to take a beat. We just got to catch a breath of Holy Spirit. I love that he’s breath because I think if and then what am I supposed to do?”
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for the gift of Your Spirit who guides me. Help me develop the habit of pausing before I react so that You can live through me. May my responses increasingly reflect Your character rather than my old nature. Amen.
Day 5: The One-Day Challenge
Devotional Transformation doesn’t happen overnight. It occurs through consistent, intentional practice of yielding to the Spirit. While we can’t expect perfection, we can take meaningful steps toward living from our new identity in Christ. Here’s a practical challenge: Choose one day this week—not your most difficult day, but one where you have some margin—and commit to living that entire day fully yielded to the Holy Spirit. From the moment you wake up, consciously surrender your thoughts, words, and actions to Christ’s leadership. Throughout this day, practice taking that spiritual breath before responding to situations. Ask yourself: “Is this the old me or the new me speaking? Am I yielding to the Spirit right now?” You’ll likely stumble at points during the day. When that happens, don’t condemn yourself. Simply acknowledge it, receive God’s grace, and recommit to yielding. Each moment is a fresh opportunity to surrender. This one-day experiment can become a powerful catalyst for ongoing transformation. As you experience the freedom and life that comes from yielding to the Spirit, you’ll find yourself wanting more of it. What begins as a one-day challenge can gradually become your new normal.
Bible Verse
“I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” – Galatians 2:21
Reflection Question
What specific situations do you anticipate facing on your “one-day challenge” that might be particularly difficult to approach from your new identity? How can you prepare now to yield to the Spirit in those moments?
Quote “Pick a day this week, one day. And don’t pick your hardest day this week. Sort of think about what day might be the best day to do a challenge for you this week and pick that day and do your very best to live that day fully yielded to Holy Spirit.”
Prayer
Holy Spirit, I invite You to lead me completely during my one-day challenge. Help me recognize when my old self tries to take control, and give me the courage to yield to You instead. Thank You for Your patience as I learn to live from my new identity in Christ. Amen.
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