“Spiritual formation . . . is the process by which the human spirit or will is given a definite “form” or character. It is a process that happens to everyone. The most despicable as well as the most admirable of persons have had a spiritual formation. Terrorists as well as saints are the outcome of spiritual formation. Their spirits or hearts have been formed. Period.”
- Dallas Willard, The Renovation of the Heart, P. 19.
You have had a spiritual formation and, if you wish, you can have a spiritual transformation. In fact, if you profess Christ as Lord, then it is essential that you do so. Professing Christ does not make you a Christ exalting person and neither does regular church attendance. While both professing Christ and worshiping with his people are essential steps they are not in themselves sufficient means towards spiritual transformation as traditionally understood and practiced. Most people and indeed most Christians simply drift through life chasing after trivial happiness and what most have understood as the American dream. We have put in numerous man hours and spent countless offerings in the hope that we might get people into heaven but we have failed tremendously at getting heaven into people. It is time that we not only believe in Christ’s power to change lives but that we actually let that power change lives, starting with you and me (Galatians 3:3).
The first step in spiritual transformation is spiritual responsibility. We must shed from our thinking any notions that make us out to be better people than we are. While ideas and phrases like nobody is perfect, I just messed up today, or that unfortunate word just slipped out may be soaked in good intention they do not get us off the hook from our actions. When I say, “I just lost my temper today,” it is rarely an isolated incident. The “today” in my statement does not excuse me. In reality, I am the type of person who loses my temper. We cannot move forward in spiritual formation until we recognize that we are who we are by what we have done, and what we do going forward will affect who we become. Ideally, we will become people who are prepared for and capable of responding to all situations in ways that are good and right. In becoming such persons, Christ will be exalted and glorified and it will be on earth as it is in heaven.
You and I must understand that we will not change unless we believe we can change. And unless we surrender to God and to the power of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit any attempts to change will be fruitless and futile. Simply trying hard will not change the inner depths of who we are. We can and must change who we are but until we realize that we can change, we will not change. Further we can change only when we realize that we cannot change on our own. Change comes when we admit our helplessness and surrender to the one who can change us. Change comes when we become spiritually responsible.
The Father sends the Son, the Son provides redemption though his blood, and the Holy Spirits allows us access into the life changing power of God is in all three persons, assuming we allow him to change us. We must take spiritual responsibility and surrender our will to God’s will. We cannot continue thinking that we will get better over time if we keep to our Church schedule. No we must do more. We must believe that we are disciples of Jesus Christ, that we are his students and do the things that will allow the Holy Spirit to change who are in our inner most depths, heart, spirit and will. Here are a few things you can do right now to start you on the path to spiritual transformation.
- Memorize Psalm 1 and meditate on the type of person described in Psalm 1. Long to become that type of person.
- Join the Journey this year as we read through the Psalms and meditate on God’s word.
- Just read the Word of God. Read the New Testament and absorb Jesus words. They will, if you allow them, change your life.
- Pray without ceasing. Call on the power of the Holy Spirit constantly to assist you on our journey toward a Christ-exalting life.
- Press on even when it gets hard or when you fall. Christ will pick you up, if you let him.
