It’s not just a matter of self-help psychology. God really does change a person’s life through the power of the Holy Spirit. Let me explain briefly:
God first begins his work with the heart (i.e. essence of your identity). The Holy Spirit works in the heart to convicts a person that he is indeed a sinner in need of God’s grace (John 16:7-11).
It is with Spirit’s help that you recognize something is wrong with your heart and come to Jesus humbly. You believe in Him for all that He is, which includes repenting of sin, trusting in his forgiveness and ultimately receiving his salvation.
When all this happens, Scripture tells us that the Spirit takes up residence in our hearts forever. Jesus gave the Spirit as a “compensation” for His absence, to perform the functions toward us which He would have done if He had remained personally with us. The Spirit to us to be our Helper, Comforter, and Guide. “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever” (John 14:16).
The Holy Spirit is also the revealer of truth (John 16:13). The Spirit’s presence within us enables us to understand and interpret God’s Word. He is the ultimate guide, going before, leading the way, removing obstructions, opening the understanding, and making all things plain and clear.
And the Holy Spirit is the giver of gifts. First Corinthians 12 describes the spiritual gifts given to believers in order that we may function as the body of Christ on earth. All these gifts, both great and small, are given by the Spirit so that we may be His ambassadors to the world, showing forth His grace and glorifying Him.
The Spirit also functions as fruit-producer in our lives. When He indwells us, He begins the work of harvesting His fruit in our lives—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
Summarily, God does really change a person’s life. There is the element of human responsibility, but God is at work first and will complete the work in the end.
[Answered by Pastor HM]
