We have been given the full power that raised Christ from the dead. “You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you…and if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.” So you see, we are not destined for failure. We are equipped as victors, saints, and co-heirs with Jesus. As we set our minds above, on the things of the Spirit, God does his transformational work in us. Our efforts, instead of always being exerted to satisfy our desires, can then be exerted on other things.
Spiritual formation is the intentional efforts on our part to place ourself within God’s grace, so that we can do, through his power, what we are unable to do on our own, better and faster.
Now that we have consecrated our desires to God and we have been given the grace and the power of God to choose what is good and right and true, we can’t just sit back and expect our bodies to automatically choose right. Because, as I’ve written previously, we are image bearers, and we are like God in that we have a spirit. Because of Jesus, we can choose good. But because of our ability to choose, we can also choose evil. This is exactly where spiritual training (practicing the disciplines of Christ) comes in. We use our bodies to do things that allow us to receive God’s grace. You can understand it as a method of indirection. I can’t directly make myself love better, be more patient, be kind, gentle, forgiving, and compassionate. These are fruit of the Spirit’s power- gifts of God’s transformation. But I can make myself
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Coming Home to Yourself Continued...
wake up in time to read my Bible. I can drink water instead of satisfying a sweet craving for soda. I can make myself sit on the couch for five minutes in order to attune to God’s presence. I can invite friends over for fellowship and conversation. I can, when I feel angry, ask God to reveal my heart and show me what should be done. If nothing can be done, I can choose to thank him for his kindness and mercy and walk away in peace. I can keep a journal beside my bed and write down something I am thankful for that day. I can pray for God’s kingdom to advance in my heart and in our world. I can plan a party to celebrate God’s goodness in my life. I can take my body outside and soak in the warmth of the sun as I take one step after another. All these things (and many more activities) I can direct myself to do. These are direct actions that I can apply my efforts and energy towards. And all the while, God will be indirectly “behind the scenes” transforming me into a person who is characterized by love, patience, kindness, gentleness, forgiveness, compassion, and self-control.
The consecrated life may be hard, but it is good. If you choose to come home to yourself, remember to be gentle and compassionate towards yourself. God’s grace is your gift. He takes your small efforts and in his power and economy transforms your heart, soul, mind, and strength to love him and your neighbor more deeply.
Let’s come home.