<\/p>\n
Between last week and this morning, I’ve been posting a series of reflections upon spiritual transformation. The following is my response to this morning’s question about how we can be transformed:<\/span><\/p>\n Transformation isn’t under our control. And transformation comes through external forces–like taking a job or meeting a <\/span><\/p>\n How does that happen? For the final posts in this series, check back in next week, where I will share my personal story of spiritual transformation.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Between last week and this morning, I’ve been posting a series of reflections upon spiritual transformation. The following is my response to this morning’s question about how we can be transformed: Transformation isn’t under our control. And transformation comes through external forces–like taking a job or meeting a spouse or having a baby. But when…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":88,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-518","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-faith"],"yoast_head":"\n
<\/span><\/p>\n
\nspouse or having a baby. But when I talk about spiritual transformation, I’m
\nactually talking about God doing the transforming. It’s why the image of a new
\nbirth is so appropriate. When Marilee was in my womb, she wasn’t there because she asked to be created, and
\nshe didn’t do anything to “create” herself. Yes, she struggled her way into the world, but the responsibility for her birth was largely mine.
\nThe same is true for God. As a Christian, I believe that God can transform
\nyou–first on a spiritual level, but in such a way that the spiritual connects
\nto the physical and emotional and moral and intellectual aspects of your being
\ntoo.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nSometimes it’s a slow process–like a seed planted in the ground, and you don’t
\neven know it was planted until it starts to grow. And sometimes it’s a dramatic
\nchange–again, like the birth of a baby where you couldn’t help but notice it
\nhas happened. I know people who can say, “I became a Christian
\nunder the tree at such-and-such address on such-and-such date.” And I know
\nothers who say, “I had a gradual understanding of my sin and God’s love
\nand the way Jesus wanted to work to make me whole.” But either way, we’re
\ntalking about a transformation that comes from the outside in, that invites the
\nHoly Spirit to enter into a life and make it new.<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/span><\/p>\n