We all are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory
Today, we continue our journey with the Prophet Elijah in 1 Kings 19 and in verse 8 we read how Elijah travelled for forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mountain of God.
Imagine walking in utter emptiness, still depressed and completely alone in the desert. If Elijah’s story tells us anything, it’s that God does not prefer ‘quick fixes.’ He could, if He wanted to, reveal Himself to Elijah right there. But He choose not to. He allowed Elijah to take that long, tiring journey and then even kept him waiting through the night after Elijah reached (1 Kings 19:9).
More often than not, God chooses long-term transformation over instant gratification.
And that’s something a lot of Christians struggle with. Especially in Charismatic circles (of which I consider myself a part), there is a tendency to focus on what God can and should do for us now.
Too often, I hear messages along the lines of “God wants to heal you, God wants to provide for you, you just need to have faith!”
Two things are lacking from such an approach.
- It focuses only on what God can do rather than on who He wants us to become.
- It implies that if God doesn’t act on our prayers, we lack faith.
Surely, He is God, and He can do anything. He could, if He wanted to, change situations, circumstances and even mindsets in the blink of an eye. And yes, sometimes He does.
But although God does want to heal or help you, even more than that, He wants to transform you (2 Corinthians 3:18).
Personal transformation is an essential element of the Christian faith. It’s a process, a journey if you will, that takes time –a lifetime in fact–and often leads us through uncomfortable places to facilitate growth.
Resolve today to shift your focus from what God can do for you to how He wants to transform you.
