Transformed Changes and changing

Last week I wrote, “…I hit the most disturbing realization in my journey: that which I desire most to become, I cannot achieve. Like Paul (that is where the comparison stops!), I cannot simply will myself to be a better person.”

“I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.”(Rom 7:18-19)

This week it got even more troubling! I began to observe my reasons for desiring transformation: peace, better man, better example, better father, better husband…better version of me… BUT, then I had it pointed out to me that these reasons were all about “me”…and that if I want transformation for the sake of being a better “me”, I was teetering on the edge of idolatry.

At this point, part of me began wondering if it couldn’t just be simpler! Why does change have to be so complicated?

Then…slowly, it began to sink in. I am created for God’s glory. God breathed a word, that word/breath became me. I am His creature, and as in the rest of creation, I am a revelation of Him. So…living for His glory is a law of origin…simple enough.

“Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness…” (Gen 1:26)

“…and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” (Gen 2:7)

Simpler still, just as He brought me into existence, and gave me the stature, “person”-ality, and all the core intricacies that make me “me”…He is calling out to our soul and drawing us back to Him, and He is willing, able and DESIRING to complete what He began.

“…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Phil 1:6)

So, if I make His glory my priority…which I cannot do on my own…and surrender to Him…stay in His presence…trust Him for my future…take my eyes off of “me” and fix them on Jesus…transformation just kinda happens…for the right reasons…in the right way: His reason; His power; His way.

A life that glorifies Him, is a grace. All of what it takes to be in His presence is a grace. Trust…is a grace, faith is a grace, ability is a grace. LIFE is a grace…it all flows from Him.

My part simply seems to be to to fix my eyes on Jesus, and in this I am transformed, through grace.

Simply profound.

Posted under Transformation