Transformation Series Episode 22

Transformation Series Episode 22

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Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Hello, my walking friend! If you have been walking along during this transformation series, I hope and pray that you have been experiencing a renewal in your body, mind, and spirit. I hope and pray that you are finding refreshment for your soul as you spend these 10 minutes walking with Jesus. And I hope and pray that you are daily being transformed from the inside out!

Today is the 22nd and final episode in the transformation series and our verse to meditate on is 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

Have you ever thought about how amazing it is that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit? It’s mind-blowing to think that the Creator of the universe chooses to dwell within us, transforming us from the inside out.

As believers, we have been redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus. Our lives have been purchased at an unimaginable cost. Because of that, we should want to honor God with our bodies, treating them as sacred vessels worthy of His indwelling presence. I don’t know about you, but this is an area where I struggle mightly. Please forgive me, Jesus.

Thankfully, Jesus doesn’t want to leave us where we are – broken and struggling. By the power of the Holy Spirit, he wants to transform us, not just in a physical way, but in our minds, our thoughts. Because it is usually something broken in our thinking that leads us to not treat our bodies as home to the Holy Spirit. When we invite the Holy Spirit to take residence in our hearts, and when we surrender our desires to his, we can begin to experience renewal on a deep, profound level.

Renewal allows us to let go of the old and embrace the new. The things that once held us captive—sin, fear, and brokenness—are replaced by righteousness, love, and wholeness. It’s a lifelong process, sometimes marked by setbacks and struggles, but God’s grace is sufficient for us, and His power is made perfect in our weakness.

An old hymn beautifully captures the essence of this renewal:

“Changed from glory into glory,
Till in heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before Thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise.”

This hymn reminds us that renewal is not a one-time event but a continual journey. We are transformed day by day, growing in holiness and becoming more like Christ. And as this happens, we will start to make Godly choices about how we treat our bodies.

Charles Spurgeon is quoted as saying “Holiness is not the way to Christ; Christ is the way to holiness.” This profound truth encapsulates the heart of renewal. It is through our union with Jesus that we find the strength and motivation to live a life pleasing to God. Our bodies, once enslaved to sin, become instruments of righteousness, shining lights in a dark world.

My walking friend, it is an incredible privilege to be the temple of the Holy Spirit. Let’s embrace the ongoing process of transformation, allowing God to work in us and through us. As we honor Him with our bodies, let’s seek His guidance, surrendering our will to His and experiencing the transformative power of His love.

Remember, you are not your own; you belong to God. Allow Him to renew you, to mold you into His image, and to use you for His glory. Embrace the journey of renewal, and let His light shine through you, drawing others to the hope and life found in Christ.

Now let’s take a little time to meditate on today’s verse,
1 Corinthians 6:19-20:
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

You are now at the halfway point of your walk. If you need to be back in 10 minutes, this would be the time to turn around and head back.

The second half of our walk is an opportunity for reflection, meditation, and prayer. For many of us, myself included, this might feel challenging. But the spiritual rewards, and transformation, that come from developing this discipline is great and so is the power of the Holy Spirit to help us. So let’s start with some questions that will guide you in the process of reflection.

Do you ever feel shame about the choices you have made that have negatively affected your body? If so, how does it make you feel to know there is no condemnation for those who love Jesus? Consider this truth now.

Do you struggle to believe that Jesus wants the best for you? If not, praise him! If so, take some extra time to meditate on Ephesians 3:18-19. Pray that you will have the power to grasp how wide and long and high and deep his love is for you.

What can you do to be more mindful about choices you make that affect your body so that you can honor the Holy Spirit who dwells in you? Take some time to consider those ways now.

Now let’s listen to today’s verse one last time:
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

Is there anything else you would like to talk to Jesus about? Anything going on in your life? Remember he is right there with you, walking with you, and he is eager for you to share all that is on your heart and mind with him. Take some time to talk to him now.

Now I am going to pray for us:
Dear Jesus,
Forgive me for the times I’ve made choices that don’t honor you and the sacrifice you made for me. Forgive me for not respecting the temple of the Holy Spirit. Help me make holy choices about what goes into my body and mind. Empower me to say “no” to the things I know are not good for me – whether that is food or drink, or something I put into my mind. Jesus, I know I can ask you for anything, and I am asking for a transformation in my body, mind, and soul. But I also know that you give me the freedom to choose what I do to myself and if I am not working in partnership with you, I will never get the transformation I desire. So, please, help me, empower me to make choices in all areas of my life that will bring you glory. And thank you, Jesus, for walking with me always. Amen.

Well, my walking friend, you did it! Another 10 minutes of walking and another opportunity to build the spiritual discipline of prayer and quiet time with Jesus, the one who promised the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. I’m grateful for you and I’m grateful you took the time to walk with me today.

For more Walk with Jesus resources, including the Walk with Jesus 21 day scripture, devotional, and guided prayer journal book for walkers, go to WalkWithJesusDevotional.com. You will find the URL for the show notes for this podcast in the episode description.

I hope we can walk together again, friend, as we start a new series on hope. Until then, God bless you as you walk with Jesus.