On a recent episode of Your Hope-Filled Perspective podcast, I chatted with Missy Eversole about how we can be transformed and not conformed to the world. If you missed that episode, you can listen here [How We Can Be Transformed and Not Conformed to the World – Episode 180]. Missy shares how to stop conforming and start transforming. Her 7 spiritual habits for your transformation journey will help you reignite a love for Christ and a life-changing hunger for Him.
Be sure to read to the bottom for a chance to win a copy of Missy’s book!
Stop Conforming and Start Transforming
by Missy Eversole
I will never forget the day. I had an epic meltdown in the school parking lot in front of my sons, teachers, students, and parents.
At that time in my life, I was physically tired, emotionally drained, and spiritually depleted. I didn’t have any boundaries, so when someone asked me to volunteer to do something, I said “yes.” My calendar was overloaded, and the stress of getting things done turned into an idol. All it took was a spark to ignite a fire, or in my case, a meltdown, to erupt, all because we were going to be late for soccer practice. My scheduling and people-pleasing severely impacted my family. I was conforming to the world, and I didn’t even know it.
Stop conforming to the world
Lukewarm in my faith, the fire that I once had for Jesus was almost extinguished. I was so wrapped up in being the perfect “go-to” person and living up to that image on social media that my spiritual life had taken a back seat. And you know what? It didn’t bother me.
By trying to conform to the world, my family no longer had a happy wife and mom but a stressed-out wife, a stretched-thin mom, and a woman who was tired and angry all the time.
Romans 12:2 reads, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Paul gives a gentle but firm command – we are not to allow the world to conform us. I was doing exactly what Romans 12:2 was telling me NOT to do.
Today, now more than ever, we need to hear Paul’s words – and not just read them, but obey them.
Can you relate?
Start transforming in Christ
So, what do we need to do? How do we begin to transform in Christ? We can start engaging in spiritual habits.
After my epic meltdown, I realized that I needed to make some spiritual changes in my life. I focused on seven spiritual habits that drew me closer to Christ and farther from the world.
Seven spiritual habits that help on your transformation journey:
- Prayer
- Meditation
- Bible Study
- Journaling
- Silence and Solitude
- Fasting
- Worship
Here’s the great thing about spiritual habits; you’ve probably been doing some of them all along. You just don’t call them spiritual habits. You don’t need to be a Bible scholar or theologian to engage in them. You just need a bit of time and a love for Jesus.
If you are struggling in your faith and feeling the pressure of the world, it’s time to ignite or reignite a love for Christ and a hunger for Him that is truly life-changing. It’s time to start transforming and stop conforming!
We’d love to hear how you pursue transformation instead of conformation in the comments below.
(If there are affiliate links in this post, meaning, if you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission (at no extra cost to you)).
About Missy Eversole:
Missy Eversole is a wife, mom of two sons, an author, and a speaker. She and her husband, Craig, have been married for twenty-one years and live in Morton, Illinois. Missy shares her love for digging deep into God’s Word as a contributing writer for Proverbs 31 Online Bible Studies. She is the author of Transformed, Not Conformed: Embracing a Life-Changing Approach to Spiritual Habits and writes about her faith and family on her blog, MissyEversole.com.
To connect with Missy Eversole: Website / Facebook / Instagram
Book Giveaway!
In conjunction with this post and the podcast interview, Missy is giving away a free copy of her book, Transformed, Not Conformed: Embracing a Life-Changing Approach to Spiritual Habits.
Leave a comment below sharing with us one thing you learned about learning how to stop conforming and start transforming and you will be entered into the contest for your chance to win a copy of her book.
You could also share this blog post on Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter then comment here to tell us where you shared it and you’ll also be entered into the drawing.
The winner will be selected at random and announced next Monday, October 3, 2022. Continental United States only.
Silence and solitude is the hardest step for me. It is hard to stop the mind from reminding me all there is to do, all there is to pray about, all there is to think about…but even in those moments, or glimpses, when my mind stops whirling, (usually after reflection, submission or confession), God speaks.
I need to make time for Bible study and time alone time with God.
I shared this on Twitter!
I find it difficult to turn down requests for help or giving financially. It’s part of what I find in the Word to be a “cheerful” giver and I thought if that’s what it takes to please the Lord and those who are needy, I can do this. It turns out that this is a trap that caused me to become inwardly resentful and then pathetically overloaded in my life. There was no time for pleasurable events, or doing what I wanted to. It’s a trap that I finally had to address as it caused friction in my mind and heart. I took time to explore a nearby park and found the pond with cascading waterfall to be so soothing and calming that I returned on a daily basis. This was the beginning of finding solitude and time for reflection with the Lord. I thoroughly endorse your other ways of finding time to ignite a love for the Lord and peace that made me realize God’s wonderful plan to live totally in connection with Him.
I am doing some of these spiritual habits but I do need to get better. I loved the podcast and appreciate so much Missy sharing this blog message and the 7 spiritual habits. She has truly encouraged me. I grew up people pleasing and it was to keep peace in the family and keep my dad from getting angry. I would keep the siblings quiet to keep dad from getting upset, etc. but of course I couldn’t control everyone so those angry times still happened and it turned into fear for me. I felt like I walked around on egg shells all the time but I am so thankful that does not happen anymore. When the Lord delivered me from fear, I quit doing the eggshell routine but I still was and even now am a people pleaser or even deeper than that, I just love to help and encourage others. So the Lord did a transformation in me from people pleasing to God pleasing by being obedient and loving to others. I would love Missy’s book and will share this on FB. Thanks Michelle for another amazing podcast and blog.