Living Closer to God Brings Transformation
Prayer: Dear God, open my heart to receive what you want for me Amen
Living closer to God initiates transformation. (If you are open to being changed, keep reading; if not, stop here.) This transformation is a radical makeover of who we are at our very core. Such a shift can be dramatic, even traumatic, because it changes the very shape (form) of our being, and how we live life. It alters how we see ourselves, as well as how others perceive us. Throughout this transformation it is impossible to envision the shape of the next stage. There is a huge element of surprise - not unlike a surprise birthday party. In fact, it is a birthday - literally a new birth - a “new you”. It is important throughout this transformation to be open and aware of this change taking place. You can monitor it by keeping notes along the way. (Glad to see you are still reading, but now please pause and spend a few minutes pondering the above text. It is a serious attempt to portray the profundity of this strategic transformation.)
Becoming new persons in this transformation will reorient our approach in greeting each new day. We will become increasingly aware we are entering God’s day into which we are divinely invited. We will find ourselves asking God how we are to live it. The agenda for the day may or may not be changed, but how we view and carry out our duties and responsibilities of the day will have a totally new orientation - a new spirit - a new life. Our days will have a new purpose - new meaning, and possibly new agendas. Primarily, it will be a day of consciously being with God rather than an ordinary day with typical schedules and responsibilities.
This transformation will inevitably alter our sense of value. Some things in which we have seriously invested time, energy and perhaps money will become less important to us, and will be replaced by new matters we now consider to be highly important. Most likely, we will find ourselves considering the needs of other people to be much more important than previously considered, and our own desires less important. Acquiring and accumulating wealth will lose its strong appeal, while the joy of sharing will become more dominant. As strange as it may sound, we will become aware that our own lives are not really about us, but about God’s greater plan for us. That is radical, but accurate. It takes life to a whole new level. That is exciting and fulfilling.
On that same track, we may be surprised to discover our politics are changing. We will lean more decidedly towards what benefits all of God’s people regardless of their station in life, race, color, sexual orientation, wealth or lack thereof, citizenship status. Our thinking will become more inclusive. We definitely will be more open to all of God’s people and their needs regardless of the existing, and often radical differences.
If any or all of his begins to happen to you, guaranteed, you will like the “new you”. Remember however, this transformation is an ongoing process. It begins small and grows incrementally. We never arrive - the journey goes on. Thankfully, transformation continues to occur as we grow even closer to God.
