Shaped by God
In my blog last week, “Choosing a pathway,” I discussed the meaning of the term, spiritual formation. A brief summary–a life of spiritual formation means living our lives before God and through Christ by way of the transforming power of the Holy Spirit (Bradley Holt). Stated more concisely, spiritual formation is “the process of being formed in the image of Christ for the sake of others” (Robert Mulholland, p. 12).
This is Part II, of my series on Spiritual Formation.
Mulholland reminds us that on our journey with God we are shaped by Him. “God is the initiator of our growth toward wholeness and we are to be pliable clay in God’s hand” (p. 20).
As the Lord spoke to Jeremiah:
This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: “Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.” So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. Jeremiah 18:1-4
On our journey toward wholeness, on the pathway of spiritual formation, we must choose to allow God to shape us. I am definitely marred and in need of shaping by God’s hands, but only I can make the decision to allow that shaping by my Lord. It can be painful. Shaping requires sacrifice and difficult changes. I must let go of control and submit to re-birth by God’s plan—death of my egocentric self to choose life in Christ. As we are shaped into the image of Christ on this journey to spiritual formation, a dying of our old self leads to transformation into a new life in Christ. Submitting to God is part of the process to become pliable and then we actively seek reshaping by the potter’s hand (God) on our journey of spiritual formation and wholeness.
We are making a choice on our journey of life–either we choose to be shaped by God into the image of Jesus or we do not. C.S Lewis sums up the choices we make this way:
Every time you make a choice you are turning the central part of you, the part of you that chooses, into something a little different from what it was before. And taking your life as a whole, with all your innumerable choices, all your life long you are slowly turning this central thing either into a heavenly creature or a hellish creature: either into a creature that is in harmony with God, and with other creatures, and with itself, or else into one that is in a state of war and hatred with God, and with its fellow-creatures, and with itself. To be the one kind of creature is heaven: that is, it is joy and peace and knowledge and power. To be the other means, madness, horror, idiocy, rage, impotence, and eternal loneliness. Each of us at each moment is progressing to the one state or the other.”
C.S. Lewis
His last statement begs repeating:
“Each of us at each moment is progressing to the one state or the other.”
C.S. Lewis doesn’t hold back, does he? He’s clearly stating that our choices matter. Do we choose to allow God to shape us, to transform us into the image of Christ? Lewis calls those who make this choice creatures of heaven who will be blessed with lives of joy, peace, knowledge, and power. Those who do not choose God’s transforming power, who do not decide on the path of spiritual formation, will suffer.
In closing, I share a beautiful prayer by Robert Mulholland:
“Gracious and loving God, it is with thankfulness that I hear your call to become Christlike. Something deep within my heart stirs in its heavy sleep at your call. The memory of something I was to have been, but am not, yet still could be, flits on the fringes of my consciousness. O loving God, stir up this hunger in my heart until it becomes the all consuming passion of my Life” (p. 41).
Do you feel the stir? God is ready to continue shaping us into the image of Christ. We choose whether to accept this gift.
Wishing you blessings on the journey, my friends.
Next week: “Inviting Reshaping”
References
Holt, Bradley P. (2017). Thirsty for God: A Brief History of Christian Spirituality, 3rd Ed. Fortress Press, Minneapolis.
Lewis, C.S. (1952/1996). Mere Christianity. Simon & Schuster: London.
Mulholland Jr., M. Robert. (2016). Invitation to a Journey: A Road Map for Spiritual Formation, IVP Books (Intervarsity Press), Downers Grove, Illinois.
What a powerful post, Katherine. Reshaping is not always easy, but a necessary part of our journey. This morning I read how sorrow and trials enlarges us. Your post was another word for me. Thank you.
Thank you for your encouragement, Marilyn. Recognizing that sorrow and trials enlarge us enables us to accept the reshaping that can come along with that hard life lesson. But, it’s painful! I’m thankful that our Lord is with us every step of the way.
Katherine, I want to be shaped by God too. And the quote by Lewis is very powerful and empowering!
C.S. Lewis is such an inspiring author, although sometimes a challenge for me to understand (he was so brilliant). I agree, the message that he shared is a life changer if we take it to heart. I pray that we can allow God’s Master hand to reshape us for His purpose.
Katherine, your words as well as the Scripture and quotes you selected, encourage me to yield to God’s plan for shaping me. Thank you.
Sometimes I struggle with yielding to shaping. It’s just not as easy as it sounds. You encourage me, my friend. Thank you!
Wow. These words by Lewis strike me: “all your life long you are slowly turning this central thing either into a heavenly creature or a hellish creature: either into a creature that is in harmony with God, and with other creatures, and with itself, or else into one that is in a state of war and hatred with God” Even while I recognize the truth in them, it’s a powerful image and one that will remind me every choice I make is important.
Oh, I agree, Candyce. I always find any writing by C.S. Lewis to be powerful and profound, but these in particular remind me that every moment in our lives is a reflection of how we are living for Christ (or not). Wishing you a blessed week.