As I began preparing my message for this Sunday on the transformation of our bodies, I realized I needed to do a follow-up email to revisit some of the things we talked about last week. The concept of "spiritual formation" that we have been diving into recently is very layered and interconnected. I know I can’t fully address every aspect of the transformation of our feelings, will, desires, bodies, hearts, etc. in a 30 minute talk (or an email for that matter). But I hope my comments in this email will provide some practical nuggets of application from last week’s message as well as some encouragement that will prepare you for this week’s.

The biggest problem I see with the transformation of our hearts is this: we are constantly drawn to things that aren’t good for us. To make matters worse, we want to indulge in those destructive things without having to deal with the consequences. Here’s an obvious example: We all crave food that we know is bad for us--sweets, soda, McDonald’s, you name it. We know these things are unhealthy, yet we put them in our bodies anyway. Then we complain about the results we’re not getting in the gym! Can you relate?

It’s scary how almost second nature it can be to try to serve both the deception of our hearts inwardly while we try to maintain the diligence of our spirituality outwardly. How many times have you tried to worship at church while anger is festering in your spirit? Try to pray for God’s peace while you obsess about a relationship you are in? Try to serve while judging those you are serving? Try to do God’s will while caring more about what others think? It’s crazy how much time and energy we expend trying to support our double-mindedness.

When we attempt to serve our hearts and God’s heart simultaneously, we have a problem. We can only try to serve two masters. We can’t actually do it. And the truth will come out. Usually the truth comes out in ways we don’t like-a destructive relationship, rage, abuse to ourselves and/or to others, an addiction, even ineffectiveness and paralysis.

Have you ever noticed there’s a certain momentum to the activity of the heart? When we make choices that give in to our hearts (Jeremiah 17:9), we become increasingly deceived. One decision leads to another and we find ourselves trapped inside the downward spiraling momentum of sin and death. What about the guy who sleeps with his girlfriend. Maybe he knows it will be destructive to the relationship. But he decides to do it anyway. And in the end, does he truly regret sleeping with her or does he regret the fact that she got pregnant? We enter into sin without wanting to admit the ways in which it will inevitably compromise our lives. Even after we have been "caught," it’s often the "caught-ness" that bothers us more than the sin itself. It is because we are deceived. Giving in to the deception of our hearts creates a momentum that can quickly pull us under if we’re not careful. Proverbs 14:12 says, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death."

How can we stop going down the path that leads to death? How can you and I possess an "undivided heart" (Psalm 86:11 NIV)--a heart beating with God’s?

1. HAND IT OVER! The key word here is surrender. We surrender our will to God’s by handing over the control of our lives. Maybe we have to do this grudgingly. The important thing is that we do it--we seize the moment of decision. We must be willing to let God be God if we are ever to serve him completely.

"Lord, I surrender my will to your will. I hand it over to you. I may not want to or like it, but I am willing. I am also willing to admit that I may be in trouble. If you shine your light on the circumstances of my life and you show me things must change, I’m willing to change . . .

2. HANDS OFF! The key word in this step is abandon. We abandon our desires to God’s. We take our hands off everything in our lives-relationships, weaknesses, addictions, regrets. We realize that our future is safe within His hands. We don’t have to worry about what he may do or what he may ask us to do. We know that we can trust his plan will be for our good (Romans 8:28; Jeremiah 29:11).

" . . . I trust you in all areas of my life, God. I not only want your will, I am confident your will for my life is better than anything I could devise or create. I take my hands off of all areas of my life. I know you will never let anything happen to me that isn’t for my good . . ."

3. HANDS ON! Now it’s time for a partnership. We are actively participating in what God is doing in our lives. We are aware of God’s movement. Let me remind you, Jesus was a revolutionary! His weapons were love and not hate; compassion and not condemnation; life and not death. Over 2000 years ago he began a revolution of love and He is currently inviting each of us to be swept up in his movement of love if we will just put our hand in his and agree to this amazing partnership.

" . . . Lord, I can sense the changing effects of your Spirit in my life, uniting my heart with yours. I want to be used by you, God. I put my hand in your hand. Use me in the revolutionary work you are doing around me. Amen."

The great thing is that the momentum principle we discussed earlier applies in the opposite direction as well. When we choose to surrender (step 1), it is easier to abandon (step 2) every area of our lives to Christ. We are compelled to do it. And as we abandon all the junk, it becomes our passion to partner (step 3) with God in anything he may be doing in and around us. We don’t want to miss out on anything. We don’t want even the tiniest fracture of our hearts to keep us from experiencing him more deeply. This is the momentum of life and wholeness.

What is holding you back from praying this prayer of surrender, abandonment, and partnership? Are you thinking too highly of yourself? Are you thinking too lowly of yourself? In denial? Unwilling to investigate? Trapped by regret? Do you think God is finished with you?

I can assure you, God is not through with the work he wants to do in your life. Let him in to do it! Let him bring the divisions of your heart to your awareness. You cannot identify them on your own (I Samuel 16:7).

Take some time today, even right now, to spend in total solitude (be alone with God), worship (focus on who God is), or Bible meditation (pray through a passage of Scripture). God will visit you in a new way. He will show you the fractures of your heart, the things that have to go in your life. And he will help you rid yourself of any master other than him.

Surrendering to Him,

Matt Hamett, Pastor, College Avenue Baptist Church, San Diego, CA
May 2003

I remember one time, I stole a candy bar from a store.  I had wanted me some sweets, so I took it.  I had really went in there to steal this rubber ball.  Me and my friends had knocked our ball on the roof, so I went into Stanle's Store to get another one.

By me not knowing how to steal, I told on my damn self.  I'm walking all around the store.  First of all, I look like I ain't have no money.  Second of all, I ain't have no note.  You know, back then, a lil' muh'fucka wanted somethin' from the store, he had to have a note from his mama.

So I'm walkin' around.  I see the ball.  I put that ball in my draws and tried to leave.

Now the man who owns the store sees me, right?  And he know ain't no eight-year-old with a dick like that.  So either I was stealin' or I had the blue balls.

Anyway, I made it to the door.  The man was gon' let me leave with the ball, too.  Now, I done made it to the door - but I wanted some sweets.  So I turned my black ass aroun' and gon' steal me a Baby Ruth!

I put the Baby Ruth in my shirt, started walking toward the door.  So now, it looked like I had tities - huge, deformed cancer breasts - and a big-ass dick.

That old man caught me at the door.  He said, "What you got?"  I said, "I ain't got nothin'."  He knew me, so at first he threatened to call my mama.  But then he said, "Tell you what.  I'm gon' let you have the candy and the ball.  But first, you gotta take that ball out your pants and the candy out your shirt and walk out of here with it in your hand."

I walked out, and at first, didn't understand the message.  But when I got older, I understood: He had given me a break, but he didn't want me hiding the truth.  Own up to what you do.  We all will get breaks, but take advantage of the second chance.  That's what I learned - and I never stole again.

     When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life, there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life.  This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it.