Our grandchildren are pretty disciplined about their homework, so part of Peggy’s and my time with them last week was solving math problems as a team. At one point, Abigail said, “When Daddy helps us with our math, he teaches us to think about the problem differently.” I thought, “Now that’s engagement.” It occurred me that, as he helps them develop their math skills, he is also building up their minds with regards to reasoning, creativity, perseverance, and confidence.
“Think differently”—in our transformation series (which began on June 10), we’ve observed it is God who steadily transforms us into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. He is the master craftsman, and “we are his workmanship.”1 Yet we as recipients have an active role in our transformation, as well. So, let’s look, and let’s begin with our minds, for Paul writes, “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.”2 Then how do we as believers—born of and indwelled by the Spirit of God—align our thinking and the actions that follow? Over time, I’ve noticed three focal points emerge in my thought life, and I share them here in hopes they are helpful to you.
Focus on what is true. We are surrounded daily by misleading falsehood and discouraging deception, so I find Paul’s exhortations to be helpful. “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.”3 And taking the offensive, “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.”4
Focus on what is eternal. “This world is fading away, along with everything that people crave.”5 We do well to “fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”6
Focus on where we’re going. “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”7 And “forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, . . . press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”8
Yes, think differently. And be transformed.
Father, “All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.”9 “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!”10 Thank you. In Christ I pray. Amen.
1 Ephesians 2:10 ESV
2 Romans 12:2 ESV
3 Philippians 4:8 NLT
4 2 Corinthians 10:5 ESV
5 1 John 2:17 NLT)
6 2 Corinthians 4:18 NIV
7 Colossians 3:2-3 ESV
8 Philippians 3:13-14 ESV
9 Psalm 119:160 NIV
10 Isaiah 26:3 NLT
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Yes, Lord.
OK, super sleuths, let’s see if we can detect a repeated theme here . . .
“Yes, Lord.”1 Two blind men, when Jesus asked if they believed He could heal them.
“Yes, Lord.”2 Martha, when Jesus asked if she believed Him to be eternal life.
“Yes, Lord.”3 Peter, when Jesus asked if he loved Him.
“Yes, Lord.”4 Ananias, when Jesus called to him in a vision.
Notice the pattern? Of course, we do.
Over the past several weeks, our study of transformation has focused on God’s active role in the process: He is the changer, we are the changed. Notice the active and passive voices in these transformation related Bible verses:
“Those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son”5
“We all . . . looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image.”6
“May the God of peace . . . work in us what is pleasing to him.”7
Again, in each case, God is the actor and we are the acted upon. This is a great thing, for He is doing in us what we could never do ourselves, even if we were so inclined. Does this mean we have no role in our transformation process? Not at all. Our role can be summarized this way: “Yes, Lord.” “Yes, Lord, I trust in your promises,” and “Yes, Lord, I obey your command, I submit to Your lordship.”
Our “yes” is a choice we make not only daily, but moment by moment. Our “Yes” comes from knowing God loves us, which liberates and inspires us to overflow His love to others. Our “yes” is our rest—the peace of trusting God and the joy of doing what He has leads us to do. And most amazingly, even our active role—our “yes”—is from God, for “It is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”8
Over the next few posts, we will delve into our active role in our transformation, our response to God’s initiative in us. We begin here: embracing the liberating joy of “Yes, Lord.”
“Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.” (Isaiah 26:8 NIV) May the lives you are transforming bring you glory. In Christ we pray. Amen.
1 Matthew 9:28 NIV
2 John 11:27 NIV
3 John 21:15-16 NIV
4 Acts 9:10
5 Romans 8:29 NIV
6 2 Corinthians 3:18 NASB
7 Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV
8 Philippians 2:13 ESV, emphasis added
Over breakfast recently, my brother recalled us learning to waterski in beautiful, sandy-bottomed Mullet Lake, near Cheboygan, Michigan. I got up on the second try, but Eric had a more difficult time. “I kept trying to pull myself up,” he recalled, “I had to learn to let the boat do the pulling.” (We see where this is going, don’t we?)
Beginning with our June 10 post, we have focused as believers on our ongoing transformation into the image of Christ Jesus. We saw first that God has a vision for us: to be like His Son. We then recognized that we’re not there yet; our change into His likeness is ongoing. Most recently, we have observed God as the actor in our transformation: like the boat, God is the puller, and like the skier, we are the pulled. A similar analogy offered by the renowned pastor and writer, John Piper, lasers in on being “led by the Spirit.”1 Piper offers this helpful contrast: “The Spirit is not a leader like the pace car in the ‘Daytona 500.’ He is a leader like a locomotive on a train. We do not follow in our strength. We are led by his power.”2 This is the Christian life. As Paul writes elsewhere, “all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”3 We live under His power and move at His pace.
What does being “led by the Spirit” infer but ongoing relationship with Him? On the eve of His crucifixion, Jesus assured His disciples of God’s continued presence through the coming of the Holy Spirit. “You know Him because He remains with you and will be in you,”4 Jesus promised, adding this: “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak.”5 The Spirit leads; we follow. He pulls; we ski. Then how do we best hear the Holy Spirit, so to recognize His voice and follow His lead? The Spirit of God speaks through the Word of God; He speaks its truth into our soul and its direction into our day-to-day life. The Spirit is present in prayer, stirring us to praise, confession, intercession, petition, and thankfulness. In fact, He himself “intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.”6 This is relationship—active, fruitful, grateful relationship.
Then here is what we’ll find: “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh [sinful nature].”7 He will always lead us in the ways that are good and right. And along the way, He will transform us, and we will be transformed.
Father, teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.8 In Christ I pray. Amen.
1 Galatians 5:18 NASB
2 John Piper, “The War Within: Flesh Versus Spirit,” Desiring God, June 19, 1983, accessed July 4, 2026, desiringgod.org.
3 Romans 8:14 ESV, emphasis added
4 John 14:17 NASB, emphasis added
5 John 16:13 ESV, emphasis added
6 Romans 8:27 NIV
7 Galatians 5:16 NASB
8 Psalm 143:10 NIV
Paul Nordman—Author 