Hi
Sometimes we find ourselves comparing ourselves to others; and before we know it, we’re trying to keep up with the Kardashians. The temptation itself isn’t new; it sucker-punched Adam and Eve, and was the subject of Paul to the Romans in today’s Holy Nougat
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2 NLT
Sometimes it’s not only about patterning the customs of the world, as it is about allowing God to be personally responsible for our makeover. You know, discerning how to be our godly authentic selves can be hard, and is often a process of discernment and vulnerability.
Yes if we press the transformation will come. But until it does, there is the temptation to pray like …; to preach like …; or even to dress like …; when all God desires is an openness to God’s intervention and transformation. As one who’s tried and failed at cookie-cutter Christianity; I assure us, even when it seems to work – God has a way better plan for us. (I know it’s way better because God designed it, and thus it’s customized for us). But first, we gotta be ready for the change.
A friend was the one who helped me ‘get it’. I was journeying WITH the person through a valley. At one point, I unintentionally changed seats and attempted to journey FOR the person, (perhaps in the hope that they’d get through faster). The person put me on pause by saying, yuh can’t drive for me; I gotta travel myself. I gotta WANT to travel, yuh can only hold my hand’
And in part, that’s what renewing our minds requires – our WILLINGNESS to travel into the Unknown WITH God. And of course, if we’re traveling with God, then it’s wisest to give God control of our entire being (of our minds too). When we let God in, and allow God full rights to redesigning, we ourselves might be startled by the transformation. Remember Paul, the ingrafted apostle-disciple? He was like none other; despite the name change, he remained authentically transformed. So he could tell us all about it –
It’s a moment by moment decision to not drive God in our journey towards renewal. An intentionality that allows God to be God. For only then can we realize Who and Whose we’re called to be. Wholly, totally and authentically. It’s then that we walk in God’s good and pleasing and perfect will.
But first, we gotta desire to be our own God-transformed selves.
In Christ’s love and grace . . .
