Transforming the Body

“This total yielding of every part of our body to God, until the very tissues and muscles that make it up are inclined toward God and godliness and are vitalized in action by the powers of heaven, breaks all conformity with worldly life in the this age and transforms us into conformity with the age to come, by completing the renewal of our minds—or powers of thought and imaginations and judgment, deeply rooted in our bodies.” - Dallas Willard, excerpted from Renovation of the Heart

If you woke up today, made some food, went to work, watched children, made a craft, exercised, or moved your body in any way, you are an absolute miracle. God has given you the blessing of living, moving, and the gift of being alert to the world around you. It’s amazing that as we sleep, our bodies are using just as much energy and power to restore us as we use in our waking hours.

While our bodies are absolute miracles, they can also become a place overtaken by havoc and confusion created by sin. “Formed in sin,” Dallas Willard says, “our character and its body are set against God and God’s ways, and as we look about us, we find it running pretty much on its own—at least for a while.”

In the process of Christian spiritual formation, our will begins to move in line with God’s. Our inner life will be matched by our outer life in a way that the deeds and words of Jesus become a natural expression of who we are. In other words, holistic Christian spiritual formation will genuinely reflect walking the walk and talking the talk in the narrow way of Jesus. Or, learning to love God with every fiber of our being.

Reflection

What is something you do habitually without thinking in your body? Do you get angry quickly, etc.? Ask a trusted friend.

Prayer

O God, we thank you for redemption. For your desire to love us back to wholeness. Help us examine the knee-jerk habits we have in our bodies that don’t bring glory to you. Amen.