Navigating Transformation: Embracing the Challenging Process | Search Engine Benefits: Engages readers seeking guidance on navigating the challenging process of transformation, likely to attract those looking for personal development and spiritual insights.

We see it all the time, “Transform your body, your mind, your life…”  Social media is full of posts on how you can do these 3 easy steps for the next 6 months and no one will recognize you.  I fall for these all. the. time. Anyone else? Please tell me I’m not alone!  The lure of changing my entire life with 3 easy steps is just too good to pass up.  

The Bible has a few things to say about transformation as well.   

Ephesians 4:22-24, “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (NIV)”

If we desire to transform our life, this passage tells us that we must first take off the old life.  We need to look into the mirror of God’s Word and ask Him to show us where and how we need to change for His glory. Transformations are HARD!  Our habits are so ingrained in our everyday life that we need supernatural power to even be aware of them. If I had a dollar for everytime I found myself with a fistful of cookies in front of the television, I would be a very rich woman.  Often, I “come to” at the end of my food fest and wonder how I even got there!  I have no remembrance of grabbing those cookies or even how they tasted. How sad!  I didn’t even enjoy them. I need God’s help to keep me aware of my actions that are on autopilot.  I need to turn my back on where and who I am.  This is a constant and on-going action. 

Changes probably will be difficult and painful. Change will hurt. Growth hurts. We may need to change our friend group or stop going to some of our “favorite” places. I had to stop eating lunch in the teacher’s lounge because I was getting caught up in gossip and speaking unkindly about others.  Transformation is difficult! My fellow teachers wondered where I was and why I wasn’t eating with them any more.  I had to explain it to those who sought me out.  Transformation can be painful! It can be lonely to walk away from something that others don’t see as a problem. We need to take drastic measures most times to begin this transformation.  It takes dedication and commitment.  This is something that those “change your life in 3 easy steps” articles don’t show you how to do. 

If we want to become something different, we need to stop doing the same things that got us where we are.  We need to break free of the hold the past has on us. If I want to spend more time writing, I need to identify where I am spending my time and then replace that thing, in my case – social media – with what I want to do more of…writing. It hurts, it’s hard, it takes discipline and self – control.  

We need to examine our hearts, with God’s help and ask some hard questions. Are we really willing to let go of our past habits to move forward? If I want to lose weight, I must be willing to give up the foods that are keeping me in the place I am at. I need to stop going to places where it is easy for me to eat food that isn’t healthy for my body.  I need to find new hobbies to replace eating and I might need to find a new group to hang out with.  Transformation takes a willingness on my part to put in the hard work and to make difficult choices so that I can be successful. 

Next we need to renew our mind through reading and studying God’s word and applying it to our lives. God’s word gives us the wisdom and strength to change our lives to be more like Christ. To really know Christ and His will for our life we need to really know who He is! And we get to know Him by spending regular time with Him. Can you imagine what our lives would be like if we replaced social media scrolling with time in God’s word? 

Last, we need to put on our new self.  We are created in Christ’s image according to righteousness and purity of truth.  We need to listen to Christ and be quickly willing to do His will over mine.  We need to be learning about who Christ is and how He lived His live.  What does He ask us to? 

We daily need to look into the mirror that God provides for us (His word and prayer) and course correct as God guides us. I really don’t think that 10 days or 4 weeks or even 6 months will give us the transformation we are looking for as followers of Jesus.  We are in a marathon and the finish line is when Jesus calls us home. Keep pressing on, keep getting up after you fall, and keep on trying to be more and more like our Savior and King.