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This is the final post in a series about spiritual transformation: <\/span><\/p>\n At this point in my life, I can say, “I <\/span><\/p>\n On the sanctification <\/span><\/p>\n The bottom line is that if you want spiritual transformation and <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This is the final post in a series about spiritual transformation: At this point in my life, I can say, “I was transformed,” in the sense that there is no going back. I’ve been changed in a permanent way. But I would also say that I am still in the process of being transformed. The…<\/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-520","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-faith"],"yoast_head":"\n
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\nwas transformed,” in the sense that there is no going back. I’ve been
\nchanged in a permanent way. But I would also say that I am still in the process
\nof being transformed. The technical theological terms for it are
\n“justification” and “sanctification.” Its the idea that as
\nsoon as we admit our sin and our need for God to save us, we are
\n“justified,” or “made right” before God. God looks at us
\nand sees us for who we are meant to be–sinless\/whole\/complete human beings
\ncreated in his image, like Jesus. But we are also still becoming that person,
\nand that process of becoming is called “sanctification.” It’s the day
\nby day transformation that comes through spiritual disciplines like prayer and
\nreading the Bible and serving others and participating in a church community,
\netc. <\/span><\/p>\n
\nfront, I’ve probably been changed the most through reading the Bible. But
\nagain, it’s reading it with an attitude or openness towards transformation,
\ntrusting that in some mysterious sense this is the Word of God and that God can
\ncontinue to speak to me through these words. I could tell countless stories of
\ntimes when I prayed and then read something in the Bible that directly answered
\nmy prayer. Other people don’t have the same experience. Their comparable
\nmoments come through dreams, or friends, or serving others. In other words, God
\ndoesn’t work in the same way with each of us to do the transformative work.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nnot just inspiration, it will take an openness on your part to the work of God
\nin your life, an openness that includes admitting your own need and God’s
\nability to meet that need. And then it takes asking God to do so, inviting him
\nin, so to speak. I don’t want to be too prescriptive about it, but sometimes
\nit’s helpful… If you get to a place where you want this, I would advise
\ntaking some deliberate time–whether with a journal or just in private
\nprayer–to acknowledge your need and then to ask for God’s response. And then
\nsee what happens. If God is real, then real change is possible.<\/span><\/p>\n