Making Changes

Part 5 of The Path for Healing and Redemption

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. ² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2 (NASB)

The BIG Idea:

The 5^th step on a path for healing and redemption is for us to voluntarily submit to every step of transformation God wants to make in our lives and humbly ask God to remove our character defects. Progress is the goal NOT absolute perfection from day one. Transformation in Christ Jesus is a daily process.

The First Step to R-E-C-O-V-E-R-Y: (The REALITY Step)

REALIZE I am not God. I admit I am powerless to control my tendencies to do the wrong thing and my life is unmanageable. Our sin nature is the cause of our challenge(s).

The Second Step to R-E-C-O-V-E-R-Y: (The HOPE Step)

EARNESTLY believe that God exists, that you matter to God, and that God has the power to help you recover. It is important for us to acknowledge God exists, to understand the true character of God, and to accept God s offer to help me. We must plug into the power of God. We must believe and receive.

The Third Step to R-E-C-O-V-E-R-Y: (The COMMITMENT Step)

CONSCIOUSLY choose to commit all my life and will to the care and control of Christ.

The Fourth Step to R-E-C-O-V-E-R-Y: (The HOUSECLEANING Step)

OPENLY examine and confess my faults to myself, to God, and to someone I trust. The forgiveness of God makes us spotless through the blood of Christ Jesus.

The Fifth Step to R-E-C-O-V-E-R-Y: (The TRANSFORMATION Step)

Voluntarily submit to every point of transformation God wants to make in my life and humbly ask God to remove my character flaws and challenges.

Where do my character flaws and challenges come from:

-        My chromosomes.

o   Genetics explains predisposition, but it does not excuse sin.

-        My circumstances.

o   Character flaws and challenges are often attempts to fill unmet needs.

-        My choices.

o   Character flaws and challenges are often positive qualities being misused.

Why is it so challenging to change my character flaws and challenges?

-        Because I ve had them so long. (They re familiar to me.)

-        Because I identify with them.

-        Because they typically have a quick payoff.

-        Because Satan discourages me.

How do I cooperate with God s Transformation Process?

1.     Focus on transforming one flaw at a time.

An intelligent person aims at wise action, but a fool starts off in many directions. Proverbs 17:24 (GNT)

2.     Focus on victory one day at a time.

Give us this day our daily bread. Matthew 6:11 (NASB)

So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34 (NASB)

3.     Focus on the power of God, not my willpower.

Can people change the color of their skin, or a leopard remove its spots? If they could, then you that do nothing, but evil could learn to do what is right. Jeremiah 13:23 (GNT)

 I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me. Philippians 4:13 (GNT)

4.     Focus on what I want, not what I do not want.

⁸ In conclusion, my friends, fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable. ⁹ Put into practice what you learned and received from me, both from my words and from my actions. And the God who gives us peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9 (GNT)

5.     Focus on doing good, not feeling good.

What I say is this: let the Spirit direct your lives, and you will not satisfy the desires of the human nature. Galatians 5:16 (GNT)

6.     Focus on people who help me, not hinder me.

You use steel to sharpen steel, and one friend sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17 (MSG)

7.     Focus on progress, not perfection.

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 (NASB)

Questions for Reflection:

Why is the 5^th step of the path to healing and redemption often referred to as the Transformation Step?

Where do my character flaws and challenges come from?

Why is it so challenging to change my character flaws and challenges?

How do I cooperate with God s Transformation Process?

Why should I focus on progress and not perfection?