3 Soulful Steps To Leave Sin In The Past (+ Let God Lead Your Future)

Best-selling author of Beauty in the Stillness, Karin Hadadan, writes three concrete ways to leave your sinful self behind and step into God’s light.

We play an active role in our spiritual transformation. Whenever we’re ready to embark on our next adventure or feel that intuitive pull to change our lives, there are three steps within the journey that each hold significant purpose.

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds. And you should put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Ephesians 4:22-24

First, we must ‘put off our old selves’—shedding the stories, identities, beliefs, programs, thoughts, and emotions that have held us hostage for too long. The version of ourselves that once served us, once protected us, once made us safe, yet was rooted in deceitful desires, practiced sin, and gave energy toward wrongdoings. These are the aspects of our being that no longer align with who we are becoming in Christ.

Once we shed what no longer aligns, we have energy and space to enter the next phase of the journey—renewal ‘in the spirit of our minds.’ During this phase, our transformation begins with our thinking—we begin perceiving life through God’s truth rather than our old filters, shifting our thought patterns, observing the negative voices yet learning how to counter them with Scripture. We begin hearing God’s whisper in the corners of our souls, allowing that powerful voice to guide our actions. Our renewed thinking creates our new reality, enabling us to change behavior, remove old patterns, and rewire our belief system.

We then are invited to put on the new self—a version of us created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness, allowing the divine love and light within us to shine outwardly, offering His grace, compassion, and love toward others. This spiritual transformation is available to each of us, but most often, we hesitate to embark on this adventure, knowing we must engage in inner work. God works in us, but we must actively cooperate through our choices. The moment we let go of our old lives, a new life begins…one that is more aligned, abundant, and rooted in faith.