This is the final post in a series about spiritual transformation: 

At this point in my life, I can say, “I
was transformed,” in the sense that there is no going back. I’ve been
changed in a permanent way. But I would also say that I am still in the process
of being transformed. The technical theological terms for it are
“justification” and “sanctification.” Its the idea that as
soon as we admit our sin and our need for God to save us, we are
“justified,” or “made right” before God. God looks at us
and sees us for who we are meant to be–sinless/whole/complete human beings
created in his image, like Jesus. But we are also still becoming that person,
and that process of becoming is called “sanctification.” It’s the day
by day transformation that comes through spiritual disciplines like prayer and
reading the Bible and serving others and participating in a church community,
etc. 

On the sanctification
front, I’ve probably been changed the most through reading the Bible. But
again, it’s reading it with an attitude or openness towards transformation,
trusting that in some mysterious sense this is the Word of God and that God can
continue to speak to me through these words. I could tell countless stories of
times when I prayed and then read something in the Bible that directly answered
my prayer. Other people don’t have the same experience. Their comparable
moments come through dreams, or friends, or serving others. In other words, God
doesn’t work in the same way with each of us to do the transformative work.

 The bottom line is that if you want spiritual transformation and
not just inspiration, it will take an openness on your part to the work of God
in your life, an openness that includes admitting your own need and God’s
ability to meet that need. And then it takes asking God to do so, inviting him
in, so to speak. I don’t want to be too prescriptive about it, but sometimes
it’s helpful… If you get to a place where you want this, I would advise
taking some deliberate time–whether with a journal or just in private
prayer–to acknowledge your need and then to ask for God’s response. And then
see what happens. If God is real, then real change is possible.