Be Transformed

Where I was,

Is not where I belonged.

What I had,

Was not all mine.

How was I to know,

What would happen to me.

Hour by hour,

And day by day,

The feelings grew.

Something inside of me was shifting. 

Making room for the new.

But letting go of the old times,

Was difficult and scary.

Not knowing what was to come.

If only I had known,

What was on its way,

And that I would be protected.

The fear I felt within,

Would have disappeared completely.

But I carried on anyway,

Hoping,

Trusting,

Praying,

It would all work out.

And that where I was,

Was not the end.

As time went on,

And the old ways gone.

I had this new feeling,

That what I had,

Was all mine.

Given to me,

To strengthen me.

And to declare, 

To all who see,

It was my faith in God,

That set me free.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship.  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.  Romans 12:1-2 NIV

There are times in our lives when we undergo transformations.  For the changes to be effective sometimes we need to let go of old habits, old thought patterns, and sometimes our old friends.  It can be difficult and hurtful but as James writes in chapter 1:2-4 NIV

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

When our faith is being tested, we are building our perseverance.  Through the many transformations we may face in our lifetime, each time brings us closer to becoming complete in the will of God.  By offering God our body, mind, and soul we are allowing Him to mold us in His likeness and allowing Him to use us for His good work.

To help you through the process of a transformation, here are some of my tips for thriving throughout the process:

• Pray: For a good outcome and the strength and resources to get you through the transformation.  Remember it is God who will transform you.  By spending time in prayer you are giving space for transformation to happen.

• Keep a journal: Keep a record of the journey and make time to write in it regularly.  Set aside time every now and then to re-read the entries. This will show you how far you have come.

• Be grateful:  Through prayer and journalling show gratitude for the steps you have already achieved.

• Continually learn:  Educate yourself to help the transformation.  This will help to improve your theological knowledge, prayer and mindset.

• Community:  Surround yourself with helpful and positive people.  Talk to people who have already been through what you are going through.  Learn how they coped and use that knowledge to prepare yourself for what is coming.

• Rest: When things are changing it can be exhausting.  Take time out to rest and recharge.  It will help you to focus on the positives of the transformation rather than the negatives.

And lastly, enjoy the experience and the new way of life you have because of the  transformation.

Prayer:  Dear Lord, please be with those who are in the middle of a difficult transformation and let them know that they are not alone.  Thank you for giving us strength and perseverance throughout the tough times in our lives.  Thank you for all the wonderful transformations You have done in our lives.  Amen

Author | Marie Fox