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There are two works that God intends to take place post conversion. They are the transformation of the mind and the conformation of the lifestyle. Romans 12:2 uses the conjunction "but" to indicate that before we can properly conform our lifestyle we need our minds transformed. In other words, we will never consistently change the way we act, until we change the way we think.

We have heard this truth here and in our churches many times. But still, God stimulates our teachers to reiterate it again and again. Why is that? I believe it is because we have tendencies to become "classic performers". When we find ourselves performing the Christian life in our own power, God would rather use gentle reminders from teachers, then painful chastening to bring us back in line with the Christ life.

The Christ life is not intended to be made up of quarterly or bi-yearly breakthroughs that get us back in line with Christ's internal work of transformation. Rather, God intends for us to be making daily adjustments that KEEP us in line with the work OF the Lord. The word of means "belonging to"; thus we may conclude that the "work OF the Lord" must "belong to the Lord" and not to us!

So, I have realized the best recipe for daily adjustments in my Christian life is repetition of key HID-IN-Life truths. Today's quote is one of the Truths that Christ has been repeating to me as of late. God's work in me is watched closely BY Him-for the internal work is transformation and God looks on the inside of His children.

The Conformation process is to be viewed by others. It is a natural growth of the transformation process. When we say that Christ does the work of the Christian life, we are not speaking of conformation. We are speaking of transformation. Conformation of our lifestyles comes as a natural result of submitting daily to the transformation of the mind. This transformation of the mind is the VERY WORK OF THE LORD!

When we make effort to conform our life, all the while rejecting the Spirit's effort to transform our thought life, we are performing the work of the Lord in our own power. However, when we submit to the Spirit's prompting to cast down wrong thoughts and captivate right thoughts (transforming the mind), then conformity of our life is the natural inclination of this supernatural transformation process.

Paul told us that our performing profits us nothing. Now, please remember that performing is simply "conforming while not transforming". That is what it means to perform the Christian life in our own power. This may be the life of a Christian, but it is not the Christian life. The Christian life is the Christ life. Paul said "for me to live IS Christ and to die is gain." Apart from my death and His life, there will be no Performance by Him, only futile and failed performances by me.

Paul told us in Romans 7 "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to PERFORM that which is good I find not." Paul was willing to perform, but he couldn't find the ability to do so. Thus he concluded that his own flesh (self effort) was useless to perform good.

Later, however, Paul was quite "confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work IN you will PERFORM it until the day of Jesus Christ." Christ reminded me today that the work of Christ is done inside of me through the transformation of my mind. It produces a clean heart and a right spirit.

My clean heart and right spirit produces the Power of the Spirit to conform my life to the image of Christ-the Christ life; which is the effective Christian life. So I must remember until He reminds me again, that the performance based lifestyle is a spectator sport. If I find satisfaction in that, then to Him I will be a spectacle.

Rather, choose Christ and be spectacular!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY: "Good morning Father, help me make the adjustments I need all day today to remain in transformation mode. I understand that you will prompt me before, during and even after wrong thoughts permeate my heart. Help me to notice your prompting. Sooner and sooner as I begin to engage in wrong thoughts, empower me to submit to you and cast them down. I know I will be tempted to dwell on them. Once dwelt upon they will create a stronghold in my mind that I will act upon. Lord, that will bring your chastening. Help me to avoid the painful process of occasional adjustments in my Christian life and submit rather to regular, consistent adjustments in my thinking throughout the day. Empower me today with your Spirit of Wisdom. I pray these things in the blood stained name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen!"

A QUESTION FOR TODAY'S MEDITATION: "If God is against that thought are you?" We shall see. . .!