Do you know the power of being transformed according to the Word of God? Leaving your old worldly ways, thought patterns and habits behind and not even having the desire to look back? According to Merriam Webster dictionary, transformation is defined as “ A complete or major change in someone or something’s appearance, and form.” How glorious is the promise for every believer to have a transformation so powerfully inward that our appearance even changes! Nothing from your past, or even the family you were born in, has the power to hold you captive and keep you unchanged.
The world uses the word transformation when describing anything from a major weight loss to a house remodeling project. However, a transformation in God’s way is not about self- improvement or superficial change, it is about a complete inner work that you cannot do on your own. We have to partner with the Holy Spirit because it is a supernatural process. Allowing the hand of God to mold, shape and prune you. Transformation is a process in every season that the Lord takes us through. It is so crucial because there is a deep inner work taking place. The process of transformation is based on trust and that trust must be placed in the Father. Have you allowed yourself to trust in the Father completely? I want you to pause and take a moment and do a heart check and ask yourself - have you allowed the Lord and His ways to transform you or have you allowed circumstances to shape you?
2 Corinthians 3:18
And we all, with unveiled face, continually seeing as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are progressively being transformed into His image from [one degree of] glory to [even more] glory, which comes from the Lord, [who is] is Spirit.
This scripture is a key for us to live by. It tells us how the transformation process is progressive and that means God is not asking us to be perfect but to live a life hand-in-hand with the Lord. We must truly behold Him, set down the masks and be authentic and genuine. Then something wonderful happens to us; we get infused with His glory! A renewal of our minds starts to happen and little by little, a glorious transformation takes place.
Romans 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world {any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].
As I thought about being transformed, I thought of the process of how the caterpillar turns into a butterfly. The butterfly and the caterpillar are a wonderful illustration of being metabolically transformed. There are four stages in the metamorphosis of butterflies. Butterflies, to me, represent vibrancy, beauty, grace and poise. We have two choices in life either allow the way of God, who is the Giver and Author of life, to be in every detail of our lives or we can allow the circumstances of life to wreak havoc and stunt our transformation process. Each stage in the life cycle of a caterpillar turning into a butterfly is vitally important.
The first stage is the egg. Eggs represent new life that will emerge. As I thought about this stage, it reminded me of when Jesus was in the tomb. The tomb at first represents finality and stunted promises and dreams. The disciples, his mother, and even His enemies all thought Jesus had died on the Cross. How many times in my own life had I allowed myself to believe the enemy had won? Spoiler alert - the enemy never wins! Don’t fall for his lame tricks. Jesus won. The Cross won. One drop of His Blood changes everything. God is so good and kind to give us the empty tomb as a public reminder that Jesus has risen and He is alive. He is always victorious no matter what we lack to see or even believe. You are an overcomer and stand in victory because of Jesus! Take a moment to thank Jesus for what He has done in your life and what He is doing now! I recently prayed for someone and what God said to me actually surprised me; “It isn’t dead until I say it is over.” God is so GOOD. The enemy is a liar and his word is NOT final. Only God has the final say! I want to encourage and remind you for those who have been in a long and difficult season, to allow the process and trust that God is working in it. I am here to remind you that stillness is not the same thing as being stagnant. Embrace the process. God has a plan.
The caterpillar is the second stage. In this stage, its focus is to eat, eat and eat some more! The caterpillar must get prepared for its next transition phase. For spiritual growth and renewal of the mind comes only from being in the Word and allow the Word to wash over us. There are several examples in the Word of “eating” of the word and than how it brings a transformation (Jeremiah 15:16, Ezekiel 3:3, Psalm 19:10). Those who are changed feasted on the Word. Jesus himself tells us He is the bread of life and the Living Water. As we live a life in His Word, we are forever changed. The world has a saying that you become like the one who you hang out with. We find this biblical principle in Proverbs 13:20. Do you want to be a reflection of Jesus to those around you? Then cultivate a lifestyle and make Him your number one priority and you will begin to be like the One whom you spend time with and live a transformed life. Reflecting the glory and goodness of God in every season and in all of your ways.
The pupa is the third stage and also known as the chrysalis. It is the most fascinating stage to me because although it looks like it's a season of rest, it is actually the most action-packed process. However, I have found a lot of liberty in learning that the season of rest is actually dynamic. A season of rest is necessary for us so that we can enter the season of transformation both inwardly and outwardly. I used to view this stage as being trapped but this is the process where the caterpillar is rapidly changing. The old parts of the caterpillar are undergoing metamorphosis. I know personally I have had to go through what seemed like an extended season of rest. It has taken me a really long time to love resting in the Lord and I’m still growing in this truth. It is all about perspective. We can be fooled into thinking that rest is stagnation, failure, loss of momentum, or even laziness and then we enter into shame, guilt, and we can doubt that this “rest” is of God. Like the caterpillar who must enter into the pupa stage, we too have to allow the Lord to wrap us up in His hands and cover us in His Word. If you have been fighting and resting with the season of rest. I want you to pause and ask the Lord to forgive you for fighting His Ways. Father, I welcome the season you have me in and I will not rush it. Holy Spirit help me to stay put and to allow the Lord to have His way in me. Holy Spirit change my perspective to align with the Lord.
Finally, the fourth stage is called the "adult" and this is when the caterpillar has done all of its forming and changing inside the chrysalis and the butterfly first emerges. What is so interesting is that their wings are folded and soft in this stage because they couldn’t use them while confined in a small and tight space. How many times have you felt unused or not able to use your gifting? Could it be that God had you in a tight and confined space to keep you still so that He could shape, mold, and refine you? Even after the butterfly first emerges into the world they have to REST so that the blood can pump into their wings!. It is important to run with Him and stay in-step like a dance, making sure we don’t run ahead or even become complacent or comfortable. We must move in harmony with the Lord in all ways.
I love how Paul teaches us in 1 Corinthians 1:18, which is, titled “The Wisdom of God” that the power of transformation and real change only comes from one source. Paul said, “For, the message of the cross is foolishness [absurd and illogical] to those who are perishing and spiritually dead [because they reject it], but to us who are being saved [by God’s grace] it is [the manifestation of] the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18). This is important because transformed lives begin with Jesus. God is so good that He gave us everything we need to live a life that glorifies Him. Jesus is the only way we can put off our old selves. It is by the Divine power of the Holy Spirit that we can live a life of godliness.
I invite you to meditate on these two scriptures:
Isaiah 64:8
Yet, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our Potter, And we all are the work of Your Hands.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior] he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit] the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life].
Here's my prayer of transformation for you. Say it out loud:
Lord, I welcome this season of metamorphosis. You are the Master Potter and I trust you. In Your hands is where I want to be. Lord I know in Your hands is the best place for me to be. You will never harm me. You will never leave me in the pit. You will always be by my side. I place my trust in You. Jesus, I love you.
In Your precious name Jesus, Amen.
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