LASTING HEART CHANGE
By Dan Tsouloufis
As followers of Christ, it is important for us to ponder: How does God change our heart? How do we grow in Christlikeness? From a biblical perspective, lasting heart change comes about by the application of God’s Word and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. Certainly, one of the purposes of the Holy Spirit is to conform believers to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 5:22-25; Colossians 3:10).
Whereas, the advice given by secular therapists (while well-meaning) doesn’t get to the root of the matter, which is our sinful heart – and our sinful desires – that have gone unchecked, due to our backsliding in our walk with the Lord.
As Christians, if we disconnect from the vine (John 15), our desire to grow in sanctification diminishes, because our faith has become lazy, complacent, and eventually, apathetic. This is where the devil can get a foothold in the life of a Christian (1 Peter 5:8).
Every day, we are battling the world, our sinful flesh, and the devil. As such, these battles are spiritual in nature, since they stem from the heart (Proverbs 4:23; Jeremiah 17:9; Matthew 15:18-19; Luke 6:45; James 1:14-15; James 4:1-2).
Therefore, we need to fight these spiritual battles with spiritual weapons (2 Corinthians 10:4-5; Ephesians 4:22-24; Ephesians 6:11-12; James 4:7).
The good news is, God’s divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness (2 Peter 1:3). Moreover, God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1:3).
However, we must be proactive and purposeful in our growth in holiness and sanctification, as we continually pursue the means of grace (e.g. the Word, prayer, worship, fellowship, and the sacraments).
Lastly, the apostle Paul assures us that no temptation has overtaken us except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear. But when we are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that we can endure it (1 Corinthians 10:13).
