At the beginning of this year, I sensed the Lord leading me to make a significant change in my daily schedule. To go from being someone who woke up and began her day at about 7:00 or 7:30 am to becoming someone who would rise before sunrise. For many, this may not sound like a big deal but I have always been more of a night owl than an early bird. Whenever I would have to get up before the sun would rise I would inwardly grumble feeling robbed of sleep. The script that would play in my mind would often go something like this, “you are not a morning person. You don’t do well when you have to get up before sunrise. You are not going to have an energetic day.” But this year the Lord wanted to flip this script.
Though there were a number of beneficial reasons for why the Lord was asking me to go through this transformation the greatest reason of all was simply to show me that I could. And that the same way this was possible is the same way anything is possible! In Romans 12:2 it says, “do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” According to this passage being transformed is not only a command but a promise! The word transformed is the Greek word metamorphoō and it means-
It is a word that actually implies we can go from one reality to another. As many of you know it is the word, we use to describe what happens when a caterpillar transforms into a beautiful butterfly. From crawling on its belly and inching its way across the earth to breaking free from its earthbound life, sprouting wings, and flying unshackled and untethered from gravity. It is a beautiful illustration of the power of transformation. The incredible possibility of changing our reality! However, it is vital to note that transformation happens “by the renewing of your mind.” For me to be transformed into a morning person required changing the way I thought. I had to make a decision that I was no longer going to play the old script but rather adopt a new one. Instead of saying, “I am not a morning person.” I would say aloud to myself “I enjoy rising before the sun to begin my day.” Instead of saying, “You don’t do well when you have to get up before the sun rises.” I would say aloud to myself, “Today is going to be a great day because you were able to rise before the sun came up!” Before I felt it, I said it! Within two weeks I was not only saying it, but I felt it! I began to look forward to rising before the sun came up and I had the energy to go with it! My reality went through a metamorphosis and became something new. Several months have now passed and rising before the sun comes up is a new normal for me. Though there are times when I have been tempted to revert to the old way of thinking I am now equipped to recognize it and take the thought captive quickly before it pulls me backward. I share this because often we are tethered to old patterns of thinking that impose limitations that God has not placed on us. Every good and wonderful thing that God intends for your life can only be apprehended by first renewing your mind. Your better self is on the other side of a metamorphosis. Without question, this is an ongoing process. A life-long journey of discovering the full potential of the treasure contained in these earthen vessels. My prayer is that today you will look to the Lord and ask Him where you need to adopt a new way of thinking and then commit to the process of transformation. A new set of wings await you!
2 Comments
Carol
5/17/2019 07:06:12 am
Sounds wonderful! Must be Great to be someone who CAN “just” Change her inner script & lifelong habits. HOW when you feel that they are stronger than God. Reading and hearing things like this at church & at retreats just discourages me & makes me stay away because I’m not like you. I can’t ‘just’.
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Lisa
5/17/2019 09:54:47 am
Hi Carol. Thanks for responding and expressing some of your struggle. Your question, "How, when you feel they are stronger than God?" is an excellent question. It is important to realize that God honors our choices and will not "zap" us out of conformity into a transformed state. We must cooperate with His instruction to be "renewed in the attitude of our mind." (Ephesians 4:23)
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Lisa Cook
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