"Changes" by: Francine Lewis

Philippians 4:13 says: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

Everyone should experience change. Part of that change is removing selfishness from the heart, but we cannot do this alone. The only One who can change us is Jesus Christ; the True Light whom all must receive in their hearts. Complete transformation happens when we have an encounter with the Divine.

“Whenever man accomplishes anything, whether in spiritual or in temporal lines, he should bear in mind that he does it through cooperation with his Maker. There is great necessity for us to realize our dependence on God.” (COL 82.2)

In John 5:19, Jesus Himself said: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.” And we know from Philippians 2:13 that: “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” This powerful transformative process of obedience to God’s will happens through the inner working of the Holy Spirit, who guides us into all truth (ref. John 16:13).

Who is the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit is a fully divine Member of the Godhead who dwells in us. He is in complete unity with God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son: (“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all.” ref. 2 Corinthians 13:14)

Transformation can be seen in the lives of those who surrender all to God and continue to do so daily.

“God has given us the power of choice. It is ours to exercise. We cannot change our hearts, we cannot control our thoughts, our impulses, our affections, we cannot make ourselves pure, fit for God’s service. But we can choose to serve God. We can give Him our will, then He will work in us to will and to do according to His good pleasure. Thus our whole nature will be brought under the control of Christ.” (MH 176.2) 

Focusing on temporal change can seem all consuming as this life distracts us from the far more significant spiritual purposes of greater change in our lives. “Through the right exercise of the will, an entire change may be made in our life. By yielding up the will to Christ, we ally ourselves with divine power.” (MH 176.3)  Sometimes we focus too much on what the world has to give rather than what God can give us. Sometimes we lose sight of the inward change when it is the power of God working in us from start to finish and to bring about a total transformation from the inside out. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) “Christ in His life on earth made no plans for Himself. He accepted God’s plan for Him and day by day The Father unfolded His plans. So should we depend upon God that our lives may be the simple outworking of His will as we commit our ways to Him, He will direct our steps.” (MH 479.1)

God is able to work a mighty change in us, if we would but humble ourselves and allow Him to make us a new creation. “Commit thy works unto The Lord and thy thoughts shall be established.” (Proverbs 4:3)

So how do we shift our focus back on spiritual growth? We must re-frame our focus. Begin to view spiritual growth as an opportunity of realignment toward God instead of dwelling on what you are giving up. Consider what you can gain, practice gratitude. “And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind. For the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.” (1 Chronicles 28:9) We should remind ourselves that temporary discomfort opens a path to greater spiritual connection. As we intentionally decrease our focus on the physical realm, we create space for an increase in the spiritual. The Holy Spirit will be able to refresh us in ways far beyond the mind can imagine. While struggles may occur, the transformative journey continues as we strengthen our dependence on God. “O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself, it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps”.

(Jeremiah 10:23)

Soon in the sacred space of surrender, change becomes an authentic pathway to His presence. Embracing something far more valuable becomes a sacred trust between us and God. Then we can build a quiet space where we invite His Spirit to search our hearts, refine our motives, and align our desires with His own so that genuine spiritual growth can flourish. With a love so deeply known and rewarded by your heavenly Father the evidence of the new birth is when we give ourselves completely to God.

Love in Christ through God our Father is unmeasurable. We cannot comprehend the mystery of God’s love, in giving His son to die for us. The power of His love to search diligently the hearts of His children is indescribable. “The most diligent searcher will see before him a boundless, shoreless sea (COL 128.4), the truth as it is in Jesus can be experienced, but never explained. Its heights and breadth and depth pass our knowledge.”(COL 129.1) “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit, in the inner man”. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,” (Ephesians 3:16-17)

Once this change takes place, we can know that we have been transformed into the image of God. The change is itself the miracle of miracles. A change directly from the Word is one of the deepest mysteries of the world. We cannot understand it, we can only believe what is declared by the Holy Scriptures. This mystery opens the treasures of the universe to the soul, unlocking  possibilities of infinite development.