Metamorphosis. Inner change. Radical transformation. Romans 12:2 says, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

As children of a Loving Father, we are to reflect Him to those around us. We can only do that as we are yielded to the Holy Spirit. Let’s review the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. No self-effort can produce fruit that glorifies the Lord.

I want to view the fruit as though we are watching our actions and attitudes in a mirror. What evidence is there in your life of: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control?

What is your response when your will is crossed, a goal is blocked, your expectations are broken, or a myriad of other obstacles suddenly appear? Our fleshly reaction reveals who we are yielded to in the moment.

Self-effort thoughts derail us from His paths of righteousness. They take our focus off the Lord Who can do all things. They draw us into mental dialogues of trying to figure something out through any possibility. That is our way.

Psalm 18:30 says, “As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.” Self-effort is leaning on our own understanding. Proverbs 3:5. Trust comes from a heart that is willing to wait, undergoing the metamorphosis needed to be who He created us to be and do.

All the caterpillar can think about is eating leaves…until. One day it seeks out a branch and spins a cocoon. Inside the caterpillar melts and God miraculously forms the butterfly. The old has passed away and the new emerges. The butterfly does not think at all like the caterpillar. At salvation, we pass from darkness to light. We are no longer controlled by the prince of the power of the air. Ephesians 2:3-4.

What happens when we wait for what we believe the Lord has told us? The maggots of our flesh feed on the hidden lies of self-effort.

1 Chronicles 28:9 says, “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts…”

1 Chronicles 29:17 says, “…I know also, my God, that You test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness…” Verse 18 was David’s prayer that affects us today. It says, “…keep this forever in the intent of the thoughts of the heart of Your people, and fix their heart toward You.” 

The Hebrew word for intent means form, framing, purpose, framework, and imagination. The Amplified says, “…keep forever such purposes and thoughts in the minds of Your people, and direct and establish their hearts towards You.”

Faith affirmations are based on the truths of God’s word. They are not a mantra that we repeat over and over. They are rock-solid truths that cannot be altered or changed in any way. We believe them. We speak them because we believe them just as Paul stated.

It is good to stop and listen to what you are thinking. When our thoughts do not line up with truth, we are set up to be derailed through a flesh-driven temptation. Does God provide? Through his obedience, Abraham learned an amazing lesson through a ram caught in thicket. He named the place The-Lord-Will-Provide. 

What is your need? Isiah 65:24 says, “It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.” Our needs are well known to the Lord. We have to be alert and now allow our flesh to derail us through our thoughts of self-effort. Do not bite that dangling bait ~ you will get hooked!

I was hemmed in. The fire truck was blocking my exit. I immediately started saying, “Jesus, You are my Rock. I stand in You and  I will not be shaken.” After a few minutes I could feel my heart rate even out, and my fast breathing returned to normal. 

When I think about standing in my Rock, I picture myself totally surrounded by the Lord. He is impenetrable, unconquerable, steadfast, and immoveable. I could not be more safe. In barnacle faith I cling to Him, knowing that nothing can pry me away.

Every temptation engages our flesh. Faith affirmations strengthen our inner man and weaken our flesh. 2 Corinthians 4:13 says, “And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, I believed and therefore I spoke, we also believe and therefore speak.”

A barnacle clings to a solid surface with refusal to let go. Our faith is in the Lord. He is our Steadfast Immovable Rock. Psalm 62:2 says, “He only in my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved.”

In 1997 I bought an old mobile in a well established mobile park for seniors. One of my new neighbors made a comment something like this: if ever one of these mobiles caught fire, the whole place would burn down.

I was the first mobile on the right as one entered the park. I had just learned a new way of warfare. One night it was tested. I was awakened in the night with red strobing lights circling on my ceiling. 

I crept out of bed and went to the front room. I bent down to look out my window. Across from me a ball of fire plumed up. A mobile across from me and down two was on fire. Fear gripped my heart. 

There is an account of David’s mighty men in 2 Samuel 23. I want to focus on one man. Verse 10 says that Eleazar, “…arose and attacked the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand stuck to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day…”

Does the hand of your heart stick to the sword of the Spirit when the enemy roars in your face? Do you have Scripture tucked away to whip out in times of temptation? When tempted to be fearful, we can whip out Psalm 56:3. It says, “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in  You.”

After my ravine fall in 1977, I would periodically go into temporary paralysis in the night. I learned to wield my sword with the last part of the verse. If I acknowledged the first part, my body would shut down further. However, as I quoted the last part over and over, my body would calm through another lesson in trust.

In 1993 I heard a testimony of missionaries who taught their little children to say, “I’m a child of God, and the evil one cannot touch me,” whenever they encountered evil presences in their room at night. Why? The enemy always looks for ways to infiltrate and destroy families.

1 John 5:18-19 says, “We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.”

Note: A believer is no longer bound in the habitual continuous patterns of sin. Our sins are intentional choices. Romans 6:1-2 says, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it.” Verse 11 says, “…reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Paul Yonggi Cho said, “I pray and I obey.” Whatever the Lord calls us to pray for, we need to take it seriously. Have you ever had a person’s name flit across your mind? That is a call to pray for them. Their drawn battle line is like a set trap. Maybe at that moment they are facing an irresistible temptation, a strategic decision, a broken expectation, devastating news, or a troubled relationship. Intercede without question.

Praying Scripture when we don’t know what to pray for fortifies the one He called us to pray for. I love Nahum 2:1. It is a great description for the power of intercession. It says, “He who scatters has come up before your face. Man the fort! Watch the road! Strengthen your flanks! Fortify your power mightily.”

In Ephesians 6:18 Paul included prayer as part of the armor of God. It says, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.”

There is an account in 1 Chronicles 20 that caught my attention as I read it. Verse 10 says, “When Joab saw that the battle line was against him before and behind…” he split up his army. He told his brother, Abishai, that if the Styrians were too strong for him, then Abishai should come and help him. Yet, if the people of Ammon were too strong for his brother, then he would go and help him. Teamwork is another term we could use for intercession.

Read his words carefully. Verse 13 says, “Be of good courage, and let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God. And may the Lord do what is good in His sight.” In Ezekiel 22:30 God called for an intercessor. We gain our understanding of what intercession is through the words, “…stand in the gap before Me…” A gap in the walk of a believer leaves them open to the work of the enemy against them.