Category Archives: Contemplation, Devotional, Inspirational, Meditation, Prayer, Spirituality

Posted on

Middle: Spiritual Transformation, Part 3 of 5

I began to look for answers.

My personal journey into authentic belief, into Christian belief that is real, into spiritual transformation that energizes, started with my search to know God. This search is ongoing and will continue until I meet my Savior face to face in the next life.

Spiritual transformation is a process that takes both you and God. It takes honesty with God, transparency with God. You have to have some skin in the game.

  • It takes looking in the mirror of God.
  • It takes a decision to sit at the feet of Jesus and learn from Him.
  • It takes putting your false self aside by not pretending anymore.
  • It takes seeking God to know Him.

The end result is you become authentic.

I want you to get a taste of what it is like to be spiritually transformed and to live an authentic Christian life. How far you want to go with this, depends on your willingness to seek God with an open heart.

Heather, in her latest book Called to be Me, says it this way. “Fly, little butterfly, … fly!” That’s what spiritual transformation looks like after you’ve been on the journey a while.

When you change, you become beautiful, and you get to fly.

I wrote this on Twitter last month.

“One of the most freeing things I ever did was to ask God to heal my memories. I didn’t know if God could heal them. Through a process, God met me where I was at and He cleansed my memories. The sorrow and submerged pain left. That was 19 years ago.”

@nlbrumbaugh

God did what I could not do.

God does what we cannot do. Every time God meets us in our place of sorrow and pain, He takes us further than we were before. When you get discouraged, look back at your back trail and see what God has already done in your life.

God is doing something in you.

Your spiritual transformation may be very slow. Don’t quit. Don’t allow discouragement to overtake you. Don’t turn aside and think it’s not worth the effort. Trust in God takes time to develop. As they say, Rome wasn’t built in a day.

God is doing two things in your life (and maybe more). He is deconstructing what doesn’t belong (which is painful and thorough). He is constructing what does belong. Both take time. God is developing a living relationship with you. One that speaks life to your soul. Hang in there.

Invite God to minister to your soul. God is willing, able, and delights in drawing close to you. When you begin to open up and draw upon God’s good favor toward you, you will experience divine mercy, loving tenderness, and spiritual enlivening.

You are becoming a friend of God.

Next in series: Changing: Spiritual Transformation, Part 4 of 5

Home Page: Spiritual Transformation

Photo by James Morden, Unsplash

Posted on

Beginning: Spiritual Transformation, Part 1 of 5

Introduction and Overview.

We will barely scratch the surface in this series. In some ways, it will be like a launchpad, launching you ‘further still’ in your spiritual journey. I want you to want this. I’m going to lead you there, so you can see what it is.

The word transformation indicates an end result. As Christians we are transitioning, transforming, and will continue to spiritually transform until we arrive home with our Father in heaven. As we look back on our spiritual lives, it is then that we have proof that our lives have spiritually transformed.

There is life in this.

We are spiritually alive. When we are spiritually transforming, the dead state of pretense, of pretending, of playing a ‘spiritual’ part, no matter how well intentioned, is simply gone. We have left the phony stuff behind. We have come alive in our spirit. We are energized by the Spirit of God.

Why are we transforming?

What is the point of transforming, of transitioning? It is this; we are being made in the likeness of God’s dear Son. We are transforming into His’ Christ-likeness. Our lives are becoming authentic. Christ is becoming more visible in us. Christ is being seen in us–in our reactions, in our thoughts, in our behaviors, and in our love. It’s all about Christ. It’s all about Christ having His way in us. We are not our own anymore.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

–Romans 12:2

My healing journey.

I’ve been on my healing journey for almost two decades now. It has revolutionized my life. I have come to know God better. He and I have a close relationship with intimate fellowship. The healing came along with my intention to seek God to know Him. God knew my heart.

I experience God as real, kind, and loving.

What is God like? God is glorious. Period. His glory touches everything. God is approachable, kind, compassionate. He loves. He cares. He helps. He keeps. He is trustworthy. He is also just, fair, and true. He is all of His attributes. God takes us by the hand and He leads the way. He takes us further still, further than we anticipate.

Before I expand on this subject, I have a disclaimer. This topic, spiritual transformation, applies only to those who already have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. Christ is the way of salvation to all who believe. I invite you to accept the gift of salvation that God through Christ offers you.

A spiritual transformation can be had.

It starts with wanting it. If you don’t want it, it’s not going to happen. You won’t get far without having some skin in the game. It takes you and it takes God, and it takes a desire for God, and it takes coming together in an honest relationship where you don’t hold back.

Joyful, Joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love; Hearts unfold like flow’rs before Thee, Op’ning to the sun above.

Next in series: Growing: Spiritual Transformation, Part 2 of 5

Home Page: Spiritual Transformation

Photo by Dario Gartmann, Unsplash