God has a way of communicating with me that is so simple yet so beautiful. Because I allow myself to be receptive to the Holy Spirit, I receive more revelation from the Father no matter what route He takes me to receive it.
This morning, while I was at the gym, I decided to use an exercise machine I haven’t touched in months. Even though it had been a while, I still remembered the way I used to do the repetitions. I would position my lower body a certain way so that I can feel it in my lower body muscles. I repeated the same form I had always used.
After I finished a set, a man standing nearby explained that I was using the machine incorrectly, and could seriously injure myself. I was shocked. I’d been doing it this way for years! He explained that what I was doing wrong and how to use the machine correctly to target the right muscles, without damaging my body. Once I followed his instructions—for the first time ever, I actually felt the muscles I was supposed to be working.
I couldn’t get over the fact that I had been doing this wrong for so long. But do you know the reason I gave him for doing it wrong? Because I saw everybody else do it that way.
I never asked anyone how to properly use the machine, not even a certified trainer. I just assumed it was right because others were doing it the same way. Go on, say it with me: “Really?”
Throughout Scripture, we see moments when people thought they were doing right, only to find out that they were completely out of alignment with God; King Saul is a prime example. In 1 Samuel 15, God gave him specific instructions through the prophet Samuel: completely destroy the Amalekites and everything they owned. But Saul kept the best sheep and cattle, claiming he did so to offer them as sacrifices to the Lord.
That sounded good—even spiritual. But it was direct disobedience. Samuel confronted him with these powerful words:
“To obey is better than sacrifice…”
Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death” Like Saul, many of us rehearse actions we think are right. We follow habits we’ve seen others do. We even defend them with good intentions. But good intentions don’t override God’s instructions.
What have you wrongly rehearsed? Sometimes we’re not walking in rebellion—we’re walking in repetition. Repeating what we’ve seen. Repeating what we’ve assumed. Repeating what culture normalized. But when the Holy Spirit lovingly corrects us, we have to be willing to say, “I’ve been doing this wrong, even though I thought I was right,” and repent of it.
We’ve all had spiritual “gym moments” where we realize we’ve been straining and struggling in vain because our posture was off. We weren’t aligned with truth, we were aligned with tradition, convenience, or assumption.
You could be doing things that are almost right, but “almost right” is still disobedience. You think you’re right, and you may even think you’re right when others say you’re wrong. But what does God think about your ways? He knows the thoughts of your mind and the intentions of your heart. He sees beyond your repetition and into your reasoning.
Ask yourself:
- Am I just doing what others have done?
- Have I invited the Holy Spirit to correct what I’ve rehearsed?
- Am I willing to change course, even if I’ve done it this way for years?
Listen, don’t be afraid of correction. It’s a sign of God’s love. It means He wants to protect you from injury, align you with truth, and position you for growth.
The beautiful thing? When I listened to this man, and adjusted my form, I saw better results. The same is true spiritually because breaking harmful patterns with God is important this season . When we stop rehearsing what’s wrong, and start obeying what’s right, we finally experience the fruit we were always meant to see.
Father, thank You for loving me enough to correct me. Help me to see the areas in my life where I’ve rehearsed wrong habits, beliefs, or patterns. Give me the humility to receive instruction, even when it challenges my assumptions. Align my heart with Your truth, and help me walk in obedience, not just familiarity. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Call to Repentance and Salvation
If you’ve never made the decision to follow Jesus or if you’ve been feeling distant from Him, know this: He’s waiting for you with open arms. He desires a personal relationship with you—one rooted in love, forgiveness, and purpose.
The first step is simple: repentance. That means turning away from your old life and turning your heart fully to God.
Romans 10:9 (NIV) says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
If you’re ready to begin or renew your walk with Christ, pray this prayer from your heart:
Lord Jesus, I acknowledge that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You died on the cross for my sins and rose again so that I may have new life. Today, I repent of all my sins, known and unknown, and turn away from my old life. I invite You into my heart as my Lord and Savior. Teach me, lead me, and help me walk in obedience to You from this day forward. In Your Name, Jesus, I pray, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, heaven is literally rejoicing, and so am I! I encourage you to get connected to a Bible-teaching church, begin reading God’s Word, and grow in community with others who can support your journey.
Please let me know if you made this decision—I’d love to celebrate with you!
