Transforming Character

“We recall that our will (heart, spirit) is that dimension of our being by which we become an underivative presence and source in the world. What comes from it comes from nothing else but us. This radical creativity is what makes the individual person absolutely irreplaceable, and therefore an ‘end in itself,’ not just ‘another one of a certain kind.’ In other words, it is what prevents a person from being a mere thing.” - Dallas Willard, excerpted from Renovation of the Heart

Has your mind ever felt like a computer screen? You’ve got 30 tabs open, there is music coming from somewhere, and you are sure your email is open, but you just can’t seem to find the last tab you were focused on.

Our character is based on the formation of our will (heart, spirit) which is either liberated by or enslaved to those 30 tabs. Character is firmly molded by the history of our willful decisions. Dallas Willard says this is why, “credit reports, resumes, and letters of reference are used to help make decisions about people.” They provide a track record of our thoughts, feelings, and tendencies. 

Christian spiritual formation requires redeeming all the places of who we are—our spirit, mind, body, social dimension, and soul. We clearly cannot have 30 tabs open in our mind and give our full attention to all of them. Rather, we give little pieces of our attention to many things, and our decision-making process is splintered.

God has given every person a will to take in and receive things, good and bad, to develop our character. The beauty of this gift is that God’s unique design is for us to reflect his image, and that we are created to be creators of good, reflecting our Creator.

The heart of Christian spiritual formation is for God’s image-bearers to move toward good in such a way that we naturally do what Jesus commanded.

Reflection

How similar is my character to that of Jesus? Do I naturally do what he taught?

Prayer

Gracious God, thank you for caring about who I am becoming. Help me to be the kind of person whose decisions naturally reflect you. Amen.