While flipping through one of my old Bible study notebooks from over thirteen years ago, I stumbled on a set of sermon notes titled “Practical Holiness.” I honestly can’t remember if that was the actual message title or just something I wrote in the margin—but baby, the truths on those pages lit me up like the highlighter I used to underline them.
It reminded me that holiness isn’t some far-off destination or Sunday-only vibe—it’s a daily practice. A mindset. A mirror reflecting the Spirit of God inside of us.
Here’s a peek into what that Spirit reminded me through those scribbled notes:
🧠 Get Rid of the Old to Make Room for the New
“You must get rid of the old thinking in order to see complete change.”
Real talk? You can’t walk in resurrection power with a tombstone mentality. So many of us are trying to live brand new lives with recycled thought patterns. But the Word says we’re new creations. That means the old script has to go. All of it.
And I get it—sometimes the flesh feels familiar. But as my notes said plainly:
“Don’t respond to your fleshy thinking; it is a deceiver.”
Your feelings are real, but they’re not always right. Your identity is not in your fear, your flesh, or your past. It’s in Christ—period.
🪞Renew Your Soul to Reflect Your Spirit
“Your soul is a mirror to your Spirit. It must be renewed to reflect your real identity.”
Now that part made me pause. If my soul (my mind, will, and emotions) isn’t aligned with my Spirit, I’m walking around distorted—like looking in a funhouse mirror expecting a clear picture.
Romans 12:2 came back to me loud and clear:
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think…” (NLT)
Transformation starts with the mind. That’s where the war is. But that’s also where the Word wins.
🌱 Not Every Opportunity Is God’s Timing
Another gem from those notes hit like a warning and a blessing all in one:
“Not every presentation is for now. The devil wants the seed planted to be uprooted before its time so he can corrupt it.”
Sometimes we mistake a “no” for rejection when it’s actually protection. Every good thing isn’t a God thing—not yet, at least. Discernment is knowing when to wait, when to water, and when to walk away.
✝️ The Cross Took Care of Your Old Self
Then came the part that nearly had me shouting in my kitchen:
“The blood took care of my sin, but the cross took care of my old self.”
Whew! 🙌🏾
That right there unlocked something for me. Jesus didn’t just cover my sin—He buried my old nature. That woman who doubted, feared, and lived in false humility? She’s already gone. Galatians 2:20 makes it plain:
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me…”
That means I no longer strive for what I already have. Faith doesn’t beg. It speaks from what is finished.
🗣️ Faith Talks Like It’s Already Done
“Faith always talks about the past.”
That might sound strange at first—but think about it. Real faith doesn’t say “maybe one day.” It says “It is finished.” It says “I reckon I already got it.”
That word “reckon” in Scripture is an accounting term. As in—it’s already credited to your account.
I don’t read the Word to try to earn something from God. I read it to convince myself of what I already possess. As one note put it so plainly:
“What is the hindrance? You already have it.”
💡 Final Thought: Holiness Is Practical, Because God Is Present
The beauty of holiness isn’t in perfection—it’s in presence. God’s presence, daily, in the middle of your motherhood, your job, your goals, your grind. Holiness is simply living from the inside out—letting your Spirit guide your soul, and your soul command your body.
It’s grace and faith working together.
So here’s how I’m walking out practical holiness this season:
- I’m putting the Word in front of my eyes daily (Romans 6:6–7)
- I’m speaking what God says, not what fear suggests (2 Cor. 5:17)
- I’m rejecting false humility and embracing full inheritance (Gal. 3)
- And I’m remembering: It’s already mine.
🕊️ Faith Takeaway:
The cross didn’t just cover your sins—it killed your old self. You don’t have to earn holiness. You just have to walk in what’s already been finished.
📣 Your Turn:
What old thought or lie do you need to throw out today?
Drop a note in your own notebook or share it with sister who’s ready to live from the inside out.
#PracticalHoliness #FaithOverFeelings #MemoirsOfABlackGirl #GraceAndFaith
© 2025, Lela Fagan. All rights reserved.
