His Spirit Living in Us

When my boys were little, I loved every single minute of being their mom. I celebrated each major milestone and the marvelous mundane beauty of daily life with them in our sunshine-sweet home.

But my boys grew up. Then I lost that memory-drenched home in a furious fire. In mourning, I was tempted to curl up in the ashes of all I had lost. But God whispered, “Consider Lot’s wife.”

When God determined to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, He also saved Lot for the sake of his faithful uncle Abraham. God was merciful to Lot and his family. Lot’s wife, however, looked back as the embers flew while fleeing the doomed city.

At times I’ve had a righteous tendency to criticize her for that bit of disobedience. After all, God told them not to look back. But in context, that woman was suddenly pulled away from her home. Marching behind her husband with two daughters, she left behind married daughters and possibly grandchildren. Amid a corrupt and vile society, she had raised a family and lived a life she did not want to leave. It was all she had known. She did not understand there was something better ahead.

Lot’s wife was longing. She was worrying—preoccupied with what she was losing but not seeing what God was giving her: protection and a future. She focused on the wrong direction. God had a good plan for her, but she looked back.

In His great mercy, the Lord allowed me to see His beautiful provision even in the fire that destroyed my home. He has taught me to trust Him with everything, even when it looks as if I have nothing at all. He taught me where to look. We are not traveling toward the past. Standing in the ashes with my memories, He gave me a future.

Consider your focus. Don’t long for something that is gone. Lean toward what is to come. It is not over yet. God’s plans are good. Keep marching toward home.

When I started college, I thought the most difficult parts would entail making friends, managing my busy schedule, and being away from home. I didn’t expect to find doing laundry on that list of major challenges. From sorting the dirty clothes to loading the washer and dryer to folding and putting away the clean clothes, doing laundry can take several hours. Although this is a lengthy process, I’m always pleased when I am finished—especially when I have neat, clean clothes to wear throughout the week.

The process of doing laundry reminds me of the Christian life, which is also a process. However, being transformed into Christ’s image is a process that takes an entire lifetime and won’t be over until we reach heaven. Christ didn’t die for our sins so we would remain the same; He died for our sins so that He could transform us.

I would love to avoid some aspects of laundry, such as transferring the wet clothes to the dryer after they’ve been washed or folding the huge pile of clothes after they’ve been dried. But if I skip one of the particularly tedious steps in the process, the result won’t be as rewarding. Instead, I’ll end up with clothes that are still dirty or wet.

Likewise, we can’t rush becoming like Christ. Some aspects of it may seem especially dull or challenging—such as reading God’s Word, submitting to authority, or confessing our sins. But our transformation will be incomplete without them. All biblical instructions—even the wearisome ones—have significance in our lives.

When you doubt God is transforming you into the image of Christ—or when the transformation process becomes difficult—ask God to give you the motivation and patience to pursue Him faithfully. Trust that He works in your heart, even when you feel discouraged or defeated.

In our diversity class while in graduate school, we were challenged to explore a new way of thinking. We brainstormed all the ways people are diverse, starting with the obvious race, religion, and sex areas. Then, it surprised us all when stories unfolded about learning styles, interests, and lifestyles.

An idea for my project unfolded as I thought about a student in my class who was a rodeo girl. I was struck with the notion that while my class at the time lacked diversity in typical terms, I knew nothing of her life outside my class. It would prove to be a worthwhile adventure.

At the rodeo, my student was in her element. She wore a large cowboy hat and ran to greet me. She took me by the hand and gave me a backstage tour. I met her mentors called “rodeo moms.” I shook hands with a rodeo clown and got close and personal with the animals.

She encouraged me to sit back and enjoy the show while she explained what was happening. I became a student that day. She was typically shy, so this was the most I had ever heard her talk. She explained the role of the rodeo clown. His job was dangerous and entailed distracting and protecting the man thrown from the bull. She explained what she would be doing when her time was up.

I watched my fellow student rope and tie a goat in record time and stand confidently on the rodeo floor. Her attire and everything about her shone with what was a newfound success for me. I immediately thought, "I need rodeo reading materials in my classroom."

After that experience and my class report to my fellow graduate students, I looked at my peers and bookcase differently. A lightbulb had gone off. We serve a God who created the earth but also people in all their creative glory. We have much to learn and celebrate.

Think of someone in your life who deserves a second glance. Then, think of ways you can meet them where they are. 

I must admit a terrible mistake I once made. I was in charge of lighting for a television shopping channel. My supervisor told the floor directors they could turn lights from one set to another if a problem occurred. At the same time, I would not receive written documentation of a lighting problem if such an event occurred. I would find out when I walked into a studio and saw a light turned differently. 

Upon walking into studio C, I found such a light on one of the sets. Sadly, I blew up and started screaming. After my rant, I walked outside to calm down. But when I returned and tried to enter the building, I was locked out. Eventually, my supervisor showed up and suspended me for three days.

Nonetheless, the Lord showed me mercy. I found out later that the director in the control room wanted to call the police. However, the producer, a Christian, asked the director to refrain.

I am so thankful for the Lord’s mercy. If the police had shown up, I could have been arrested. I am also grateful I did not lose my job. What I did was a sin.

The Lord is merciful to all, as when He died on the cross for our sins. The Lord showed mercy so we can have eternal life with Him. If you have not received His forgiveness and eternal life, do so today. 

My imagination ran in hyperdrive. I didn’t know when to expect my friends back home, but I was sure they should have been back long ago. I sat uncomfortably on an oversized windowsill in the kitchen, watching and worrying.

Each passing minute seemed like an hour. My hands were clammy. I began to shake uncontrollably. Sweat slid down my spine under my shirt. I was sure that my BO was becoming unbearable and that when they returned, I would be embarrassed by it. Darkness fell, exacerbating my terror.

Rain fell and a strong wind blew. A tree outside swayed in the wind and scratched on the window. Odd and terrifying sounds filled the house, which would have seemed perfectly benign in other circumstances.

I had been left alone in this large house while a group of friends took a day trip. I don’t remember the details, but we were a college group that memorized Bible verses and had Bible studies together.

My fears were groundless but no less real. When my friends returned, I could not admit I had been afraid. “Everything went just fine,” I said. But I was a liar. My foolish pride would not allow me to confess that I failed to apply what I claimed to believe. If I had been honest, they could have prayed with me, we could have laughed together, and I could have grown.

If you are not a part of a small group, find one. Seek out friends to whom you can confess your sins of unbelief. Let them love you to spiritual growth.