How are we transformed?

(1) Prayer

Spending time with God. We’re not going to Him so He can tell us what to do, but so that He can make us like Him and give us His mind, His heart, and His wisdom.

James 1:5-6 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. ⁶ But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

2 Corinthians 3:17-18 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸ And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

(2) Knowing and obeying the Scripture

Pay attention to what is already written, what we already know His will to be. Do that and you will be transformed.

You want to know whether or not to take a job? Instead of treating him like a Magic 8-ball – should I take this job yes or no, should I marry this woman, yes or no - consider the kind of questions you learn from God’s Word:

Do not have any idols or gods above him – doesn’t matter what kind of job you take or who you marry if you make your job or your spouse an idol

You can not serve both God and money – doesn’t matter what job you do if you put money above God

Are you deciding out of greed? Lust? Fear of being alone? Fear of failure?

If anyone does not provide for his family he is worse than an unbeliever – will this job help me provide for my family

Whatever situation you find yourself in, His will is for you to allow Him to sanctify you through it. Spend time with him and in his word so that he might test your motives and help you make a wise and righteous decision.

(3) Being a part of a community of wise people

Notice the focus on listening advice if you wish to be wise:

Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.

Proverbs 15:22 Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed

You need advice to be wise! You need to surround yourself with wise people who can help you discern what is best in any situation.

Finally, the third theme we find in Proverbs:

(3) The key to living in God’s will is to commit yourself completely to Him

Proverbs 16:3 ^- Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

Commit yourself completely to him and your plans will succeed. Not do whatever you want, commit it to him, and it will succeed. Commit your life to him, determine that whatever happens, whatever he brings your way, you will serve and worship Him.

Matthew 6:33-34 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

To be committed to Him is to say:

I will obey anything you say, whether I understand it or not

I will accept anything you send me, whether I understand it or not

Then both the good and bad times will turn you into a wise person who makes successful plans. Commit yourself to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.

Now, we know that we are not perfect, and that nobody is perfectly committed to him. But thank God that Jesus was perfectly committed to the Father, living the life we should have lived and dying the death we should have died. And even though he was perfectly committed, he received our punishment:

Isaiah 53:10 Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.

The Father’s will was to crush the son, so that we might experience His guidance and know that in everything, He will work it out for good. Give yourself fully to the Lord, as He gave Himself to you, no matter what your circumstances. Trust in His sovereignty, and allow Him to transform you into a person with the wisdom and righteousness of His son, Jesus.