Transformed by His Spirit

Ezekiel 26:36-37 (NLT) And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.

As I’m spending time with the Lord tonight, I become keenly aware of my weaknesses…He knows them as well as I do, so there’s no point in ignoring the facts. I want to draw closer to Him, be more sensitive to the promptings of His Spirit and I want His heart concerning the lost and broken. I realize how often I go through life on my own mission of accomplishing tasks and so often I miss opportunities to share the Gospel and the love of Christ. My primary desire is to please Him, so I ask that no rock be left unturned. I want nothing in my life that would separate me from Him! As I realize all of the changes that need to be made, I also understand my personal limitations. I can only worship so much and reach so far…my personality can be so focused that I have very limited peripheral vision. So, is that an excuse to remain stagnant, no longer reaching for the next level? I mean, it’s just who I am…right? That’s not good enough! Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit to lead, direct, teach, empower, and comfort us. We have access to the greatest power on earth and it’s enough to change everything about our lives. There’s a stretching and molding process we must continually yield to, but the important thing is, are we willing? Do we hold on to those areas of our soul that criticizes others or gossips? Do we continue to entertain sin, holding on to 1 dark room in our hearts that says KEEP OUT to God? I’ve ministered to people who have told me that they have given Jesus all their heart and life except for this one area, and He understands…really? Is it His will that the devil has possession of any area, therefore giving him access into every crevice? He’s no gentleman! If you give an inch, he’ll take it all and destroy everything! We may not be able to change ourselves, but let’s get real with God and give it all up to Him. He can take a mess and transform it into an incredible miracle. Ask Him to reveal the areas that need work, repent, and rely on His Spirit to purge, bring healing, strength, freedom, peace, alterations, and deliverance. Whether it’s a personality change or an all-out overhaul…repent, surrender, and trust Him. You're not alone in this process! As you willingly give Him your all, He’ll walk you through it and one layer at a time, give you the strength to crucify each dark area of your flesh! Willingly give it to Him and allow Him to do what only He can do! Colossians 3:4-8 (MSG) Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you’ll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ. And that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy. That’s a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God. It’s because of this kind of thing that God is about to explode in anger. It wasn’t long ago that you were doing all that stuff and not knowing any better. But you know better now, so make sure it’s all gone for good: bad temper, irritability, meanness, profanity, dirty talk. Colossians 3:10 (TPT) For you have acquired new creation life which is continually being renewed into the likeness of the One who created you; giving you the full revelation of God. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (TPT) We can all draw close to him with the veil removed from our faces. And with no veil we all become like mirrors who brightly reflect the glory of the Lord Jesus. We are being transfigured into his very image as we move from one brighter level of glory to another. And this glorious transfiguration comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.