When we become a Christian a spiritual birth occurs and we are born again, according to the word, "all things become new." During this initial season of blessings the Spirit moves into the center of our lives and begins the process of transforming us into His image. The Holy Spirit is gentle and loving but very persistent and therein lies our spiritual dilemma. It is at these crossroads, when the Holy Spirit is working to conform us into His image, that we encounter trials of the flesh and even face the danger of hardening our hearts to His working.

During the season that the children of Israel were in the wilderness the tabernacle was placed in the very center of the camp. It is no different with our relationship with the Lord. He expects to be in the very center of our lives.

Centering  our lives in Christ is the purpose of the Holy Spirit and why He is, "leading us and guiding us into all truth". The fact that we can become off-centered should come as no surprise to any of us. We live in a time when ungodliness and sin abounds at an astonishing pace.

At a time when we should eagerly be submitting to the Holy Spirit's work in our lives, we are bombarded with wave after wave of ungodly influences. These images, passions and self-centered wants, when engaged, grieve the Holy Spirit. If we aren’t discerning and start to cling to doubtful things, then we will begin to drift and find ourselves disappointed, discouraged and in the mist of fiery trials or even unbelief.

A.W. Tozer wrote, "There can be no doubt that this possessive clinging to things is one of the most harmful habits in life. Because it is natural, it is rarely recognized for the evil that it is. But its outworkings are tragic."

If you are spiritually at a local where what you’ve read has become a revelation to your soul, then it’s time to engage into a season of prayer and naked openness to the Lord.

 Submit to the Holy Spirit and yield to any convictions of ungodliness and repent. Trample under foot every trick of your deceitful heart and be cleansed by the Spirit. This activity will require changes, some of them possibly painful, but I promise that you will never suffer any regrets when the loving flow of the Lord floods your heart and raptures you into His waiting arms.