What is the Secret to Real Change?
Why, despite our sincere desire to change, do we continue to commit the same sins?
I’ve often wondered why it is so difficult to stay on the right track. Why do I keep falling into the same sins even though I genuinely want to change? I struggle to be patient, kind, or self-controlled, even though I know I should. I am sure you can relate to that.
The answer is simple but powerful: we were never meant to do this on our own.
Many of us think living as Christians is about trying harder. We were saved by grace, but now it’s up to us to figure out how to live righteously. What I discovered is that true change is not something we achieve; it’s something God does in us through His Spirit.
Jesus said in John 15:5:
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
He said "nothing." Not “very little.” or “less than you could do with His help.” Jesus says that apart from Him, we can do absolutely nothing of spiritual value.
So it’s more about salvation—it’s about our entire Christian walk. We cannot bear fruit, overcome sin, love others, or obey God unless we are fully connected to Him through the Holy Spirit.
Life Is Impossible Without the Holy Spirit
Before Jesus was crucified, He told His disciples:
“Very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” (John 16:7)
They must have been wondering how it could be better for Him to leave. But Jesus talked about something greater: the coming of the Holy Spirit, who would empower them to live the life God intended.
Before the Holy Spirit, the disciples were weak, fearful, and inconsistent. Peter denied Jesus three times out of fear. The others ran away when Jesus was arrested. But after they received the Holy Spirit, they became bold, powerful, and unshakable.
The question is: What changed? When receiving the Holy Spirit, they were no longer relying on their own strength. They were now operating in God’s strength.
Fruit Is the Evidence of Connection
If we remain in Jesus, we will bear much fruit.” That fruit is what Paul refers to in Galatians 5:22–23:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
It’s not called the fruit of effort. It’s the fruit of the Spirit because it is not something we can generate or create on our own.
When you think of a fruit tree, it is not trying or struggle to produce fruit As long as it remains connected to its source of life, fruit naturally grows.
That’s exactly how it works in the Christian life. If we are connected to the true vine (Jesus), fruit will come naturally. But if we are disconnected and try to live in our own strength, we become spiritually dry and ineffective.
The Danger of Self-Reliance
Our biggest struggle or problem is self-reliance and believing that we can live holy lives in our own power. Strict rule-keeping, outward righteousness, and religious effort will not make us acceptable to God. We can be religious but not connected to God.
Self-reliance leads to:
Pride: When we think we’re doing well, we become proud and judgmental of others.
Despair: When we keep failing, we become discouraged, exhausted, and spiritually defeated.
Self-reliance keeps us from true transformation. The only way to live in victory is by surrendering to the Holy Spirit.
Here are four practical ways to surrender:
Recognize Your Need: Admit that you cannot do this on my own. Until we recognize our weakness, we won’t rely on the Spirit’s strength. The Christian life is not about trying harder—it’s about dying to self and allowing Christ to live through us.
Stay connected to the Vine: Stay connected to Jesus through daily prayer, seeking His presence, and reading, meditating, and obeying His Word.
Walk in the Spirit Daily: When we live in dependence on the Holy Spirit, He gives us the power to overcome sin.
Trust God for the Results: Our job is connection, not production. Jesus says, “Remain in me, and you will bear fruit.” The results are up to God. Our job is to abide in Him and allow His Spirit to work in us.
The lesson I took from this is to stop trying and start abiding, meaning being connected to God. Most of all, I don’t have to do this on my own. God has given me everything I need—His Spirit—to empower me to live for Him.
Remain in Him, and let the Spirit bear fruit in your life.