Transformed By the Holy Spirit

I like do overs.  I get to start fresh every morning.  Each day I can rejoice because God has given me another day to experience His love.

Even though I know this to be true, I sometimes wake up feeling guilty and full of shame.  I use to struggle with letting my past and day to day mistakes define me.  Now I focus on who God says I am.

Gradually I’m accepting God’s grace and mercy.  I’m choosing to receive His forgiveness.  I’m being kinder to myself when I mess up.  The reality is that while I’m in the flesh I will have to deal with my sin nature.   My choices and responses will be messy from time to time.  The important thing is that I learn from them and move on.

More and more I’m understanding what Paul meant when He shared his struggle about sin.

^“14 So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. ¹⁵ I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. ¹⁶ But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. ¹⁷ So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

¹⁸ And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.^[a] I want to do what is right, but I can’t. ¹⁹ I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.”  Romans 7:14-19 (NLT)

Growing in Christ is non-stop.   God has given us the Holy Spirit to transform us.   I’m changed when I seek His ways.    The Holy Spirit speaks to my needs and I shift gears.   I need the Holy Spirit,

^“2 And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be ^[a]transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].”   Romans 12:2 (AMP)

God is reworking my character.  He helps me adapt to new ways of thinking and managing.   He helps me adjust to life changes.

He asks me to turn from my ways and trust Him with the leading of the Holy Spirit.   It’s getting easier to let go and trust.  When I keep my eyes on Him and not my circumstances I overcome life’s obstacles more smoothly.

I realize more and more that I have to be willing to let the Holy Spirit rework my circumstances and correct me when I’m headed the wrong way.  A day doesn’t go by that something in my life needs a tweak.  I give God permission to reorganize the details of my day to day plans.

How many times do we fail to turn from our ways?   Too many times for me.  When we go humbly before God, He will fill us with the Holy Spirit.   The Holy Spirit will convert us from our old ways of sin to holiness.   Out of slavery to freedom.

I vote we let God renew us each and every day.   How about you?

 

Let’s pray

Heavenly Father create in us a clean spirit that is holy and acceptable to you.  Shower us with your Holy Spirit and open our eyes so that we may see what is true, pure, and lovely.  Renew our mind and give us a clean heart.  Show us how to serve like Jesus.  You are the Potter and we are the Clay.  Mold us and make us new.  We ask this in Jesus Name – Amen