April’s Practice of the Month: Spiritual Transformation
Spiritual Transformation: Healing from the Inside Out
When we think about change, we often focus on what’s happening on the outside. We try to quit bad habits, repair relationships, and get our lives back on track. But true healing doesn’t just happen on the surface. It starts deep inside us.
For those in recovery, it’s not just about stopping a behavior. It’s about letting God heal the wounds that made that behavior feel necessary in the first place. This is what spiritual transformation is all about. God doesn’t just want to change what we do. He wants to heal who we are.
Paul writes in Ephesians 3:17: “Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.”
Real change happens when we let our roots grow deep in God’s love. When we do that, healing begins from the inside out.
Not Just Behavior Change, But Heart Change
Jesus often challenged people to look beyond their actions and into their hearts. In Matthew 23:25-26, he said:
“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence! You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too.”
That might sound harsh, but Jesus wasn’t trying to condemn. He was inviting people into something deeper. Many of us have spent years trying to fix the outside of our lives, hoping that will make us feel whole. But until we let God into the deeper places of our hearts, the patterns that kept us trapped will keep trying to pull us back in.
Healing isn’t just about stopping a behavior. It’s about letting God transform the way we think, feel, and live.
Self-Help vs. Surrender: Who’s in Control?
The world tells us to fix ourselves. We hear things like, “Try harder. Do better. Take control.” But when we rely only on ourselves, we stay stuck in the same cycles of stress, shame, and failure.
Jesus offers us something better. In Matthew 11:28, he says:
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
Transformation doesn’t come from striving. It comes from surrender. Paul reminds us in Philippians 1:6:
“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”
God started the work in you. He is the one who will finish it. You don’t have to do this alone.
Progress, Not Perfection
Many of us have struggled with perfectionism. We set high expectations for ourselves, and when we fall short, we feel like we have failed. But spiritual growth isn’t about getting everything right. It’s about moving forward, even when it’s slow.
Paul writes in Romans 12:2:
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
God’s transformation is a process. Some days will be easier than others. Sometimes we take two steps forward and one step back. But as long as we keep showing up, God keeps working in us.
Healing from the Inside Out
So how do we embrace this kind of transformation?
Be Honest with God – Healing starts when we stop hiding. Talk to God about your struggles, fears, and pain. He already knows and loves you.
Let Go of Control – Transformation isn’t about trying harder. It’s about trusting that God is at work, even when you can’t see it.
Stay in Community – Healing happens in safe relationships. Surround yourself with people who remind you that you are loved and that you don’t have to do this alone.
Embrace Progress, Not Perfection – Celebrate small victories. Trust that God is patient with you, so you can be patient with yourself.
Keep Saying Yes – Every day, choose to keep moving forward. Even when it’s hard, trust that God is leading you toward healing.
An Invitation to Transformation
God’s love isn’t just about cleaning up our mistakes. It’s about making us new. He wants to heal the wounds we’ve carried for too long and lead us into freedom.
Where do you need healing today? Where might God be inviting you to stop striving and start surrendering?
No matter where you are in your journey, trust this: God is not finished with you yet.
