For the month of May, I’ll be camped out in the theme of transformation.
In April, I focused on the new life and new beginnings found in Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection. And now, I’m reflecting on what that entails – how exactly we are transformed.
I’m journaling in 100 Days of Bible Promises. The devotional for day 70 is based on John 15 which talks about the pruning that we undergo as believers. Jesus is the Vine, and God the Father is the Vinedresser or Gardener Who prunes us to make us more fruitful. The devotional reminds us that trials are necessary for this process and He knows exactly what we need.
The veil removed
At one point, before Christ, there was a veil over our minds and hearts. Our minds were closed from seeking or receiving understanding. Our hearts were hard and disobedient. That veil is removed when we turn to Jesus.
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:18
Focusing on Jesus, and seeing Him clearly, causes us to be deeply aware of our own sinful nature. We see the image in which we were created, His example, and how we were designed to be.
The perfect being perfected
Because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we stand before God the Father as perfect, meaning we stand forgiven; He does not count our sins against us because we place our faith in His Son.
For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
Hebrews 10:14
We also now have direct access to God, to be in fellowship with Him and receive all the help He supplies. And we need that help because, although we are considered perfect, or justified, we still need to be sanctified.
To “sanctify” a person is to make him/her holy; set apart for a special use.
Sanctification is the progressive, ongoing spiritual transformation where we are gradually changed into the likeness of Jesus Christ. It begins when we receive the Holy Spirit and increases over time as He grows us and brings forth the fruit that represents His character.
Galatians 5:22-23 tells us that “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control”.
This transformation is not achieved through our own efforts, but is the work of the Lord, who is the Spirit. However, we can and should participate.
Be aware
For starters, we can be aware of the purpose of this life.
We are assured that in this life we will have trouble. Yet, many times in the midst of those troubles, we might wonder why we are experiencing one problem after problem. We might feel frustrated or defeated. We might adopt a cynical view on life and default to complaining and wanting to escape from the difficulties we are facing.
However, when we are aware and believe that trials are meant to grow us, then we can embrace them and seek God’s perspective.
Behold Him
Secondly, we can behold Him by reading His word as led by the Holy Spirit.
In John 17:17, Jesus prays to the Father saying “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth”.
As the Holy Spirit reveals the truth and shows us the lies that we believed and the ways of the world that we are walking in, we can respond by asking Him to help us turn from those ways and walk in truth instead.
Surrender to the pruning
Lastly, we can surrender to God’s pruning and keep in step with His Spirit.
As He reveals the truth that we need to walk in, we must understand that we will be given opportunities to practice that until it becomes our new nature.
We will be given trials through which we are grown and transformed in the process.
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Romans 8:28-30
The devotional concludes with the reminder that even though the pruning may not feel pleasant we can trust that He is doing something good. That’s our God, He is good, and we should expect nothing else.
He promises that, in the future, we will be completely and permanently glorified. Now that’s something to look forward to!
Process and products used:
These pages in 100 Days of Bible Promises by Shanna Noel feature the following products by Creative Worship Stamps. These are affiliate links, please see the Privacy Policy for details.
- Faith Definitions 2 stamp set
- Petals & Dots Stencil
- Glory & Praise stamp set
- Vintage Butterflies & Blooms stamp set
- Print Script Lowercase Alpha stamp set
- Skinny Caps Alpha stamp set
** Watch the process on YouTube here: Transformed from Glory to Glory
Be encouraged
🎶 Always Come Through ~ Bridge Worship
I know the weeping will only last a night
I know Your mercies are new with each sunrise
You’re good on Your promise
Steady and constant
I put all my trust in You
God, You always come through
You have nothing left to prove
Don’t let me forget Your faithfulness
I’ve seen it over and over again
God, You always come through
I know it’s not the end of the story
You’re taking me from glory to glory
I’m gonna see Your goodness
One day I’ll stand in the land of the living
Look back and know it’s just the beginning
I’m gonna see Your goodness
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11
