The Transformative Life

The Transformative Life
Becoming What We Behold The young artist was handed an enormous block of marble. The Carrara block was deeply flawed, rejected by other experienced sculptors who saw it as unworthy. But the young artist accepted it seeing something others could not. For years he worked, chiseling away at what seemed an impossible task. And from that unremarkable block emerged one of the most iconic masterpieces in history: Michelangelo’s David.
Reflecting on his process, Michelangelo said, "I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free."

Isn’t this a picture of our own spiritual formation? In the hands of the Master Redeemer, what seems flawed, overlooked, and formless can become something breathtaking. God is at work, shaping us into the image of Christ, setting us free to become who we were created to be.

  The Longing for Change
When I was in seminary, I remember feeling stuck. I was doing all the right things and learning all the right ideas, but I felt empty. Unchanged. One day, I sat with my spiritual director and shared my frustrations. He listened patiently, then asked, "So, what are you beholding? "I wasn’t sure, so I sat in silence, feigning reflection. He explained, " What captures your imagination and attention? What do you fix your attention on day after day? Because that’s what is forming you. Where are your eyes looking?" That question challenged me. I realized that while I wanted to be shaped by Christ, I was letting my eyes stray to other things that had begun to shape my soul. My ministry, comparison, the endless noise of screens and distractions. I needed to shift my gaze, to behold Jesus in a way that wasn’t just theoretical but transformational.

Conformity vs Transformation
Paul gives us a stark contrast in Romans 12:2. "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind." Conformity to the world is easy. It happens when we absorb cultural values without questioning them, when we chase after power, prestige, comfort, or approval. This kind of conformity distorts our desires and reshapes our affections in ways we don’t even notice.
Transformation, however, is intentional. It requires surrender and cooperation with the Spirit. It is about seeing rightly, loving rightly, and living rightly.

Renewing the Mind - Orthodoxy
Transformation begins with reorienting to what is most deeply true. Jesus said, "I am the truth." (John 14:6). If we want to be changed, we have to let Christ shape how we see God, ourselves, and the world. The world tells us we are defined by our performance, our possessions, or our past. The gospel tells us we are defined by Christ. When our minds are renewed by this truth, we begin to see differently. We start recognizing the lies we’ve believed and step into the reality of God’s love. We stop asking, “what does it mean to be successful?” and begin asking, “what does it mean to be faithful?”

Reordering the Heart - Orthopathy
Right belief alone isn’t enough. Our affections (emotions) must be reshaped. Jesus called us to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. This isn’t just a command to feel something. It is an invitation to let our desires be reordered.
Much of our struggle with sin and spiritual stagnation comes from misdirected affection. When we put our ultimate hope in success, relationships, or material security, we become enslaved to them. True transformation happens as we learn to desire God above all else. This doesn’t come through sheer willpower but by abiding in Christ, remaining connected to him through intentional attentive prayer. As we spend time in His presence, Jesus does the heavy lifting of changing our emotional state. He gives us his own heart, and reorders our inner lives, teaching us to long for what he longs for.

Living the Life of Christ - Orthopraxy
Right beliefs and reordered loves lead to right actions. Transformation isn’t just about inner change. It is about living differently. It means forgiving when it is hard, serving when it is inconvenient, and loving when it costs us something. It is about embodying the life of Christ in real, tangible ways. Yet the secret is not in our willpower, but in our surrender to the presence and power of Christ.
The more we intentionally draw our eyes to the Lord, the more we are transformed into the same glory we behold (2 Cor 2:17-18).

Becoming What We Behold
At the heart of spiritual formation is this truth: we become what we behold. If our focus is on the world, its distractions, its anxieties, and its fleeting promises, those things will shape us. But if we fix our eyes on Jesus, we will be changed into his likeness. This is a gradual, grace-filled process. It requires patience and perseverance. It is not about achieving perfection but about allowing the Spirit to draw us deeper into the life of God. Transformation does not happen in isolation. We need companions on the journey, people who help us discern the Spirit’s work in our lives and encourage us to stay rooted in Christ. This is why spiritual direction is such a gift. It offers a sacred space to listen for God’s voice, reflect on his work, and be shaped in the way of Jesus. If you long to live a transformed life, consider stepping into the practice of spiritual direction. It is not about being given answers but about being guided into deeper awareness of God’s presence and his work in you.

You were created to reflect the beauty and goodness of God. Will you allow yourself to be shaped by his hands? Will you step into a community that helps you behold Jesus? The invitation is open. Come and be transformed.