Have you ever said, “I love You, Jesus, with all my heart! I live for You! You are my Lord!” If you’ve spoken these words and truly meant them, the next step is to live them out—daily! This isn’t about perfection; it’s about sensitivity—allowing your heart to feel nudges and promptings from God. These moments are not about condemnation but about His deep love for you. They are His way of guiding you toward blessing and away from choices that lead to destruction.
God desires to be active in your life, shaping your thoughts, attitudes, and actions. But when we ignore His gentle prodding, we miss out on the transformation He intends for us. Proverbs 26:12 (NKJV) warns, “Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” A person who hardens their heart to God’s nudges may think they love Jesus but will find themselves spiritually stagnant, experiencing little change or growth. Ignoring His whispers hinders your personal transformation which is what actually draws the blessings of God into your life.God’s Word holds the power to change us—if we let it. Hebrews 4:12 (NLT) says, “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” When you feel the Holy Spirit speaking to you through Scripture, don’t brush it aside. Stop and pay attention. That moment is God’s power working in you. Transformation is strongest when you obey those nudges in real-time.I remember early in my walk with God, He began to nudge me in specific areas of my character. He poked me about jealousy, urging me to be an appreciator and encourager rather than resentful of others’ success. He reminded me, “You never need to be jealous of someone else’s blessings. I have enough for everyone. Your success will come in line with the unique gifts I’ve placed in you, and as you are diligent to walk in them. Be an exhorter, and you’ll reap encouragement in return.”
I remember another time when God whispered in His still small voice, about impatience and anger. He whispered, “Be patient and kind with people. You’ll be amazed at how much joy this change will bring when impatience and anger no longer are a part of your reactions. You have my Holy Spirit! Make the decision to be patient and kind. You will get there in time and I am not judging your failures. Great blessing lies within the transformation! I took those nudges seriously. I got on my knees and prayed, “Jesus, You’ve already forgiven me, and Your Holy Spirit is changing me. Thank You that I am patient and kind. Thank You that I am not jealous but a sincere encourager of others.” I repeated these affirmations, especially when I felt like I was falling short. Over time, they became part of who I was. God’s transformation replaced old patterns with the fruit of the Spirit.
The Apostle Paul speaks of this transformation in Galatians 5:22-26 (TLB):“But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, He will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control…If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit's leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or irritate one another, or be jealous of one another.”
It’s not enough to simply know about God’s Word or the fruit of the Spirit. Knowledge without action leads to pride. And not responding to God's leading results in no fruit! As 1 Corinthians 8:1 says, “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.” The Pharisees knew God’s Word, but their hearts were hardened, and their lives bore no fruit. Transformation only happens when we respond to God’s nudges and let the Holy Spirit shape our character.
Spiritual maturity is not instantaneous—it’s developed over time. Each time we embrace a whisper or prompting from God and act on it, He moves us closer to the person He created us to be. So when you feel that nudge, don’t resist it. Imagine Him standing next to you, giving you a side hug, looking you in the eyes, saying, "Come on! You can do this!" See it as His love in action, guiding you toward His best.This week, ask yourself: Am I listening to God’s voice and responding to His nudges? When you embrace them, you open the door to a deeper relationship with Him, and to the incredible blessings He has for your life.
Psalm 1:1-3 (NIV) "Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers."
Dear Lord, Your word tells me I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me. Help me to be sensitive to the leading and guiding of your Spirit—to the whispers and nudges of your leading, and not fight or resist you but instead pause, draw strength, and follow your direction as I walk in your love! In Jesus name I pray! Amen
In His love,
Pastor Tim Burt
