Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Transformed by God


Wednesday, January 8, 2020

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.  2 Corinthians 3:18 NASB

Every day that we live is a day of transformation.  There is not a day that goes by that God is not doing something in our lives, even though we not feel like anything is happening.  Some days it even feels like God has left us altogether, but that is never the case.

God loves us unconditionally, no matter what.  He died for us before we even knew who He was.  But His heart for us is to be changed.  It is what He can do for us that no one else can – not in the same way.  He can help us grow and become more like His Son, Jesus.

How Can God Transform Us?

New Thinking – The way we think affects the way we feel and the way we feel affects the way we act.  Sometimes instead of changing our thinking, we just change our actions.  When we do this without allowing God to change our way of thinking, we are just putting a band aid on the problem. True change happens from the inside out.  Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.  ...to be made new in the attitude of your minds; Ephesians 4:23  

The Right Community – We need a community that will encourage and enable us.  The right community will make a difference in our lives and will be a direct source of growth for us.

Truth - Truth is not simply a principle – it is a person.  Jesus said, “I am the truth.” (John 14:6) Because Jesus is the truth you can trust what He says.  Why does God say you’ve got to know the truth if your life is going to be transformed?  Because Every self-defeating behavior in your life, is based on a lie you’re believing.  It may be a lie about my past, worth, present or future.  It may be a lie a lie about God other people.  But what Jesus says is truth we can build our lives on and if He loves us and thinks we are worthy, then we are worthy.  That truth has to drown out every lie of Satan and the world.

Make Room - throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.  Ephesians 4:22 NLT 
We have to clean out our mind, body, and spirit, and make room for the new thoughts and ways we must adopt for true transformation to happen. We need to get rid of old ways of thinking and also take a look at the people and situations that we allow to take up our time.  Are they godly influences?  

Faith - Transformation begins with faith.  We must believe we can be different - with God’s help – or we won’t be different.  Motivation is an emotion and like other emotions it is fed by fear or faith. Fear produces negative motivation responses - restricts, inhibits, tightens, protects.  Desire is positive - opens, reaches, encourages plans, achieves.  Fear looks to the past and desire to the future.

Here’s what the Bible tells us in Ephesians: Now, by his mighty power at work within us, God is to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes.  All good things in us come from God. Only His power is strong enough to transform us. In our own power we cannot change anything. Notice none of that has anything to do with will power; you are not forcing yourself to change - this is God working in your life! 

We get to choose how much God blesses our lives. You get to choose. What will you choose?  

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