A New Wine: Prepared for a New Season

Happy New Year, friends

This is my very first blog post of the year, and I don’t take that lightly. I’ve entered this year with intention, prayer, and a quiet determination to stay aligned with the plans God has placed on my heart. I can truly say that so far, God has been helping me stay consistent.

If you missed my last blog post on creating a vision board, I encourage you to go back and read it. Vision gives direction, but obedience is what brings manifestation.

Recently, I attended one of Dave Ramsey’s classes, and something he said deeply resonated with me:

“It doesn’t hurt to try new things. If it doesn’t work, you can always go back to your old ways.”

That statement reminded me of something even deeper: growth often requires discomfort. Trying something new means letting go of familiarity, and that’s exactly where faith comes in.

And that brings me to today’s message.

God Is Making a New Wine Out of You

This year, God desires to make new wine out of you.

But the question is not what God wants to do, the real question is:
Are you ready?

“Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins… they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”
— Matthew 9:17

New wine demands a new vessel. God needs something to work with — a surrendered heart, a renewed mind, and a willingness to change.

Throughout the Bible, whenever God was about to use someone in a greater capacity, transformation always preceded assignment:

• Abram became Abraham
  
• Sarai became Sarah
  
• Jacob became Israel
  
• Saul became Paul
  
• Simon became Peter
  

A name change symbolized an identity shift. God was saying, “You can no longer carry the new assignment with the old mindset.”

As We Journey Deeper Into the Year

There are intentional areas we must work on as we invite God into our daily thoughts, habits, and decisions.

1. Spiritual Discipline

Spiritual discipline is foundational. Many of us desire spiritual growth, yet struggle with consistency. We get distracted during prayer, rush through Scripture, or only seek God in moments of crisis.

But intimacy with God is built daily.

“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”
— James 4:8

Even if it’s just ten minutes a day… Pray, read, listen. Discipline is not about perfection; it’s about persistence.

2. Healing: Making Room for the New

Healing comes in many forms: childhood wounds, unmet expectations, broken trust, disappointments, strained family relationships. Some wounds are visible, others are hidden deep within.

The Bible reminds us that relationships can be complex:

“A man’s enemies will be those of his own household.”
— Matthew 10:36

Unhealed wounds can leak into new seasons and contaminate what God is trying to build. Healing is not weakness, it’s preparation. God heals because He wants you whole, not just successful.

3. Building Capacity

Many people pray for more while remaining comfortable with less. A limited mindset can restrict a limitless God.

I recently heard Bishop Dale Bronner share a story about a man who went fishing with a friend. The friend kept throwing large fish back into the water. When asked why, he said:

“The pan I use to cook the fish can only hold a certain size.”

Some of us are doing the same thing, rejecting opportunities, blessings, and growth because our capacity hasn’t expanded.

This is the year to increase your capacity. Think bigger. Pray deeper. Prepare better.

God is making new wine but the vessel must be able to carry it.

4. Guard Your Thoughts & Your Words

“As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.”
— Proverbs 23:7

How you speak to yourself matters. Stop tearing yourself down with words God would never use against you.

No more:

• “I’m behind in life.”
• “I’m not good enough.”
• “I’ll never get there.”
  

Do not compare your Chapter 2 to someone else’s Chapter 33. Your journey is valid. Your pace is purposeful.

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue.”
— Proverbs 18:21

Speak life. Declare what you want to see. Call those things into existence.

5. Faith Is Non-Negotiable

Faith is the currency of heaven.

“Without faith it is impossible to please God.”
— Hebrews 11:6

Before God makes new wine out of you, you must believe that you are worthy of the process and trust His timing even when it feels slow.

Faith sustains you while God is working behind the scenes.

6. Reject Laziness — Spiritually & Physically

This season demands movement.

“The soul of the lazy man desires, and has nothing.”
— Proverbs 13:4

Pray with intention. Move with purpose. Start the thing. Steward your time, your gifts, and your energy.

New wine does not flow through stagnant vessels.

7. Be Ready for the Work

Transformation comes with pressure. Growth is often uncomfortable.

“Gold is refined through fire.”

There will be tests. There may be pruning. But refining does not destroy, it reveals.

God is not punishing you; He is preparing you.

Final Reflection

God is doing a new thing in you this year but new wine requires readiness, humility, and obedience.

“See, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?”
— Isaiah 43:19

Stay open. Stay teachable. Stay faithful. The wine is new.
The vessel is being prepared.