Did you feel that “blast” of cool weather last weekend? Refreshing wasn’t it? I know, I know, we are still lined up for some hot days that will remind us we live in the South, and that’s just fine with me. But the first hint of fall or winter or spring or summer is refreshing to me because it is a signal of change, and change reminds me of what God is up to in our lives on a daily basis.

Paul told the Corinthian believers “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). God is after the complete transformation of His children.  Meaning that when we become a part of God’s family we become something new. This change is not necessarily an overnight change but over time change. Change for the believer is inevitable and constant. We never arrive, we are never perfect, we are never what we should be, but we are becoming what He wants us to be.

This transformation takes place starting from the inside, the heart. Our heart is central to who we are, and it is so essential that if we are going to change into the likeness of Jesus Christ then God must have control of our heart. We cannot hold back, we have to be broken to who we are and surrender to God so He can make us into what He wants us to be. We must have a “surrendered brokenness,” otherwise we will never see the need for change; we will go on thinking we are just fine the way we are.

David understood this well. In his classic chapter on repentance he wrote,

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” (Psalm 51:17)

More than great sacrifice God desires a heart that is brought low to the point of honestly assessing its greatest need. The greatest need is a humble acceptance of our circumstances and a wholehearted, all in, trusting of God’s ways. When He has our hearts in this place then real, lifelong change can take place. And that change will be like a blast of refreshing cold air after a long, hot summer. It will be beautiful.

Grace & Peace,