Digging Deeper: A Soft Heart Holds New Wine
33 One day some people said to Jesus, “John the Baptist’s disciples fast and pray regularly, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees. Why are your disciples always eating and drinking?” 34 Jesus responded, “Do wedding guests fast while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. 35 But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.” 36 Then Jesus gave them this illustration: “No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and uses it to patch an old garment. For then the new garment would be ruined, and the new patch wouldn’t even match the old garment. 37 “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the new wine would burst the wineskins, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. 38 New wine must be stored in new wineskins. 39 But no one who drinks the old wine seems to want the new wine. ‘The old is just fine,’ they say.”
Luke 5:33-39 (NLT)
A SOFT HEART HOLDS NEW WINE
HEART — What Is God Forming in Me?
Jesus says new wine needs new wineskins. Old wineskins become stiff and brittle. If new wine is poured into them, they burst. Over time, our hearts can grow guarded or rigid, especially after disappointment. But the work God wants to do requires a soft, responsive heart.
Reflection Questions
• Where might my heart have become guarded or hardened?
• What would it look like to become more open to God again?
Prayer
Lord, soften the places in my heart that have grown rigid. Help me stay responsive to Your Spirit.
Amen.
SOUL — What Is God Revealing About Himself?
Truth About God: Jesus pours new life into hearts willing to be renewed.
Worship Prompt: Holy Spirit, I welcome Your renewing work in my life.
STRENGTH — What Action Is Faith Requiring?
Practical Challenge: Ask God to reveal one place where you’ve grown resistant.
Embodied Action: Take one step toward openness today through forgiveness, honesty, or surrender.
Minda Seagraves has been married to her best friend, Russell, for 17 years and is mom to Carson and Maddie. She is also a full-time missionary with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, serving as a chaplain to local female high school teams and supports 380 staff across four states in the U.S. and 20 countries in East Africa as the Regional Director of Talent Advancement with FCA. Minda and her family live in Acworth and have been attending NorthStar Church since 2020.