Home makeover programs fill the airwaves, captivating millions upon millions of viewers. On shows like Property Brothers and Fixer Upper, homes that are simply outdated or even completely dilapidated become showplaces. A transformation that seems impossible to most of us becomes reality through the vision, creativity and skillful work of an expert designer.
Some days I feel like one of those homes – the ones that need A LOT of work. The ones with the unseen problems within the walls or pipes. I so desperately need the Master Designer and Builder to transform me.
The truth is, God has and He will.
If you’re a follower of Jesus, you have been made new. You’ve not simply been remodeled and fixed up; rather, you’ve been born again – torn down and completely rebuilt from top to bottom. Through faith in Jesus, His death became your death. His new life became your new life. That’s why 2 Corinthians 5:17 (AMP) states:
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].
At the moment of salvation you became a brand new, perfectly constructed, beautiful “home.” God calls you His temple because He put His Spirit in you. He couldn’t live in you unless you were fully complete and without defect. Yet what was done at salvation in your spirit is worked out over time in your soul (mind, emotions and will) and body. This is the part where we can take some lessons from the experts on HGTV.
Every home renovation starts with a vision of what the house could look like. We need to believe and embrace the vision God has spoken about us. In our spirit we are complete, whole, holy, perfect — even when how we think and feel doesn’t match who God says we are. We must believe that a complete renovation of our soul is possible. It’s the promise of Philippians 1:6:
“He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.”
Once the vision of the new home is accepted, the designer goes to work. Walls come down, bathrooms are gutted, new floors and kitchens are installed. But none of that happens if the homeowner doesn’t release the designer / builder to do the work. We “release” God to do His work by giving ourselves to Him. The apostle Paul wrote it this way:
“I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:1-2).
In giving ourselves to God, He reveals lies we believe. He leads us to repentance. And in one of the greatest miracles we could ever receive — He transforms us by giving us a change of mind. He gives us new ideals, new desires and new attitudes. As our minds are renewed, our lives are made new. How we think, feel and behave begins to match the person God has already made us to be in Christ.
This is how we more fully enjoy the new “home” God has given us. When God’s people live in their new, true identity, it brings Him great glory. We become a showcase! Be incredibly blessed by practicing Way #33 of 52 Ways to Glorify God:
Let God renew your mind.
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