The Training Ground of God

When God wants to do something new in your life, He takes you through a period of training. This training is designed to help you leave behind old habits, outdated mindsets, and limited perspectives. More importantly, He ensures that as you step into your new season, you do not conform to the ways of the people in your new environment.

Leaving the Old Behind

God addressed this principle in Leviticus 18 when He instructed the Israelites:

"You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived, and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you. You shall not walk in their statutes. You shall follow my rules and keep my statutes and walk in them. I am the Lord your God." (Leviticus 18:2-5)

Egypt symbolized their past—a place of bondage and limitation—while Canaan represented their future, a land of promise. However, both places had influences that could hinder their walk with God. The Egyptians were known for corrupt practices, including incest, and the Canaanites for rampant sexual immorality (for instance, Sodom & Gomorrah were located in the land of Canaan). God wanted His people to be distinct, set apart for His purpose.

Renewing Our Minds for the Impossible

God desires that we embrace His way of thinking so we can believe in the impossible and walk in alignment with His plans.

• He wants to ensure that we can properly handle the new things He has in store for us.

• He declares, “Call unto me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things which you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3).

To prepare us, God gives us tests. These tests refine our love for Him, our faithfulness, our endurance, and our obedience. But we are never given more than we can bear:

"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Even when we fail, God’s mercy prevails:

1. He quickly forgives us when we repent.

2. He does not want us to wallow in shame, guilt, or condemnation. (Satan is the accuser and will set you up to fail, only to turn around and say, “Gotcha!”)

3. He expects us to get back up and recover quickly. “A righteous man falls seven times and rises again” (Proverbs 24:16).

4. In His grace, He allows us to retake the test until we pass.

   
   

The Reward of God’s Training

God’s training can feel intense, but He promises that the reward will be worth it.

"Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." (1 Corinthians 2:9)

Jesus also reassured us of the blessings that come from asking in faith:

"And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you." (John 16:23)

As we grow in our relationship with God, we reach a point where He even grants the unspoken desires of our hearts. Andrew Wommack speaks of how God will bless us with things we merely think about because our thoughts are aligned with His will.

Walking in Humility After Promotion

Once we step into our new season, God expects us to apply the lessons we’ve learned. He warns against pride and a worldly mindset—the “I’ve arrived” attitude.

Returning to Leviticus 18, God instructed the Israelites that when they entered their promised land, they were to follow His ways and not conform to the practices of the people around them. Similarly, Romans 12:2 reminds us:

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

God’s training is for our benefit. It prepares us to step into greater blessings without falling into the traps of pride and compromise. So if you find yourself in a season of refining, take heart—God is preparing you for something far greater than you can imagine. He's training you for reigning.