Spiritual makeover challenge — January 14, 2017

I’m a sucker for before and after photos of makeovers. I love seeing the changes, recognizing how to enhance the beauty that’s already there and bring out what was formerly hidden. As I was trying to fall asleep one night last week, I thought about all the ways I want to change spiritually, and I prayed, “Lord, make me over in your image. I need to be transformed by you.”

Then I knew just what to do. I hopped out of bed and sat at my computer and promptly made this list of characteristics that I’m asking Him to make over for me.

That’s the key: not trying to do this ourselves, but leaving it to the Expert. I think we can safely trust that He will answer these prayers because of what the Bible says about us being made in His image:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. ~2 Corinthians 5:17

And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. ~Colossians 3:10

So, here’s my idea: Read through these scriptures with me, and pray these prayers, and download the worksheet at the bottom of the post. Then spend some time reflecting on your spiritual beauty (and imperfections), and go to God in prayer, asking Him to transform You to be more like Him.

Lord, give me Your eyes to see — let me see through eyes of compassion, not ones of judgment; let me see the beauty I might otherwise miss, let me notice the needs all around me

Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. ~Psalm 119:18

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. ~1 Corinthians 13:11-12

Your ears to hear — let me hear cries for justice, pleas of the lonely, calls for help, the needs of the heart that aren’t articulated or even always understood, and let me hear Your voice over all others

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. ~John 10:27

Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. ~Isaiah 55:3

Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly. ~Psalm 85:8

Your arms to reach — let me help someone else who’s down, let me embrace someone who feels alone, let me be the safe place someone else needs to come to for shelter

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. ~Hebrews 13:2

Your hands to touch — let me treat people gently, competently, surely, and let my hands be instruments of healing

Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. ~Mark 1:41-42

Your words to speak — let my words build people up, not tear them down; let me share Your truths with kindness and accuracy

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. ~Ephesians 4:29

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. ~Hebrews 4:12

Your mind to reason and solve problems — help me distill problems and learn to frame them through the lens of your word, and help me formulate unexpected and perfectly appropriate solutions that could have only come from You

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. ~Romans 12:2

Your legs so I can stand firmly, with stability, on a solid foundation — strengthen my faith, planting it more deeply inside me, so that I will not be toppled by strong winds or easily shaken

When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever. ~Proverbs 10:25

So then, dear brothers and sisters, be firm. Do not be moved! Always be outstanding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. ~1 Corinthians 15:58

The Lord’s plan stands firm forever. His thoughts stand firm in every generation. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. Blessed are the people he has chosen as his own. ~Psalm 33:11-12

Your heart to love without limit — show me what love really looks like, and teach me how to say “I love you and,” not “I love you but,” because is it truly love if it comes with criticism or judgment? Open my heart to feel new depths of compassion and to love generously, mercifully, and with

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. ~Psalm 51:10-12

And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh. ~Ezekiel 11:19

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. ~Matthew 5:43-45

Amen!

P.S. Don’t give up. It may take some time for God to reveal His ideas to you or to give you the chance to practice these traits. But rest assured that He does want to transform all of us to become more like Him. We just have to be willing to let Him! Click here or on the worksheet image below to download the PDF file.