Real Transformation, not Positive Thinking

Forget positive thinking. Dwell on the positive, but practice the things you learn. Spend a few moments in the Bible and find out how.

Reality TV is all about transformation. The ugly duckling turns into the beautiful swan. The outcast hippie chick changes her clothes and somehow that changes her whole world. The squeamish and the strong team up to become tough survivors. But our reality is that we desperately want to become moms, where's the TV show for that?

We want nothing else than to become one of the moms at the mall with our sweet "Gymboree-clad" baby tucked into a deluxe 5-way stroller. We would be oh-so-happy paddling and giggling at the Y pool for newborn swimmers, along with all the other moms. And we would reluctantly close the door each night on our bejeweled and bedecked nursery with our very own heavenly angel breathing softly in its midst.

Now that's a transformation we can relate to! Comparing that to our real life spent at the doctor's office, scheduling sex, shots in our backside and waiting, waiting, and oh, more waiting. We are in need of some kind of change.

God promises that He will give us a family in His timing and according to His plan, if we're willing to trust Him and wait upon Him. So the good news is that we will become a mom! And although this will be a big thing in our lives, to truly become the kind of mom God wants you to become, we must concentrate on our inner spiritual transformation.

Babies are great, but they can be tough on your sense of self, tough on your marriage and tough on the priority of your relationship with God.

How do we find that inner transformation and growth that will sustain us in all areas of our lives?

Paul has some good advice for us in his letter to the Philippians in the Bible:

"Summing it all up, my friends, I'd say you'd do best by filling your minds and meditating on things that are true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling and gracious. Whatever you can find that is good and beautiful and worthy of praise, dwell on these things."

This is not just about positive thinking, Paul continues:

"Now, put into practice these things that you have learned and received for yourself and heard and seen in me and others and the God of peace will be with you."

Call it "positive practice". The hilarious, very real author, Ann Lamott, quotes her pastor, "We don't transform ourselves, but when we finally, really listen, the Spirit has access to our heart, and that is what changes us."