A Spiritual Metamorphosis

Spiritual life is like a butterfly’s metamorphosis. Distinct stages mark the changes in a person’s spiritual life. God is making something out of our lives that we get to be a part of  throughout the process. His desire and our hope is that one day we will fly in full freedom and joy.

Three Stages: Knowing, Loving, and Living

I liken the three stages of a butterfly metamorphosis with three stages of spiritual growth.

Post 1:  THE KNOWING: The First Stage of Spiritual Life

Post 2:  THE LOVING: The Second Stage of Spiritual Life

Post 3:  THE LIVING: The Third Stage of Spiritual Life

SPIRITUAL LIVING

1. THE KNOWING

TIER 1 GROWTH IS FOUNDATIONAL  ↓↑

Knowing is the caterpillar stage. This is where you start your spiritual life and is foundational for the rest of your life. Knowing is about knowing Christ, believing in Christ as your Lord and Savior, developing your spiritual life with prayer, bible study, interaction with other Christian believers, and becoming grounded in your faith. You are knowing in your faith and you are being known by God.

The key words for Stage 1 are belief and knowledge.   KNOWING review Link

2. THE LOVING

TIER 2 GROWTH IS TRANSFORMATIONAL  ( )

Loving is the cocoon stage. Loving is when we start growing beyond what we know and believe. This is a silent area of seeking God to know Him, of praying prayers that worship God. This is when one begins to listen for the Shepherd’s voice. Loving is when healing and change influences transformation. You love God for Who He Is, not for what you know about God but because you literally love Him, His Presence, and you are getting to intimately know Him. You are being loved by God in ways you feel and you are loving God in the heart. To know God is to love God. You are letting God help Himself to your life as He shows you what needs cleansing and healing. This is both painful and freeing.

The key words in Stage 2 are trust and surrender.   LOVING review link

3. THE LIVING

TIER 3 GROWTH IS ALIVE, FLUID  ∞

Living is the butterfly stage. Knowing then loving, now we come to living. Living is a wellspring of aliveness that originates in the Spirit of the living God. It can’t be faked, though many fakers imitate the routine.

You will know those living in intimate relationship with Father, Son, and Spirit by their humble love, spiritual wisdom, and human reactions. They act differently because they are intimately tied to the source.

Their lives are spiritually centered. God is on the throne; He comes first. So what does it look like? The believer centered in their faith is kind, loving, helpful and generous.

The key words in Stage 3 are freedom and grace.

Knowing and loving provide the foundation for living that is then nurtured and continually growing. When Christ came into their life at their request, a holy transaction took place.

They became new, forgiven, released from bondage. Peace became their experience. One can live the spiritual life naturally when they know what it is in their understanding and in their experience.

Because God is love, they quite naturally take on love in their soul and being. This love lives in and out.

YOU CAN FLY FREE

The living is a natural by-product that just happens as a result of what God has put into their lives. A heart, mind, and soul intimately living under God’s divine influence is more easily led by the Spirit rather than the flesh.

This also means, when troubles come or major depressive hurts, losses, and disappointments are experienced, they recognize when their spiritual relationship is suffering. Because God is their best friend they won’t want to stay in misery, sad, bitter, or resentful.

They miss the closeness of intimate relationship with their Father God and want to restore that relationship even if it takes a few months to get over whatever happened. God helps us.

Lastly, how do you get there?

• You seek God with your heart, mind, and soul.
• You don’t hold anything back.
• You spend time alone with God.
• You let God be on the throne of your life.
• You listen to His quiet voice (you will discern it in time).
• And you trust God for the journey.

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HOME PAGE: SPIRITUAL STAGES

Let me know how it’s going. I’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment here or email me at nlbrumbaugh@gmail.com. God bless you, Norma

Spiritual Life Stage 2

THE LOVING

THE KNOWING from the last blog post, here, is the foundation for all things spiritual. A butterfly cannot become a butterfly without first living as a caterpillar. Reading Scripture, praying, studying God’s word, and following his teachings are all part and parcel to this basic understanding of believing the gospel of Christ and following Christ.

I believe most Christians live on this level and are content to stay here without going further still. Why? I think most Christians believe this is all there is. They don’t know more could be had, or they’ve been told to be suspicious of anything else. Another reason might be lack of interest, or another, a lack of ambition, or for want of effort. It’s not a deal breaker, for this isn’t about salvation of your soul.

But why wouldn’t you want more if you know there is more to be had?

THE LOVING

and How it Happens

Suffering has a way of taking you to new places spiritually; things like, you can’t do it, or you’re exhausted, you’ve been hurt, suffered a loss, or maybe you just want more in your spiritual life. These and the plain old desire to learn more can initiate a new search in a different area of spiritual life.

You want to know God. You want to know if God is enough. You crave authenticity in your spiritual being. You’re dissatisfied and feel somewhat incomplete or fake inside.

This is when you are moving into Stage 2, the transformation: A place where you begin to seek God to know him, and begin to have the mind of Christ, as Scripture says.

Whether at a dark place, a suffering state, or a seeking openness, you are ready to be  open and honest with God. You are going to a new level, no longer are you satisfied with ho-hum Christian living. Simply put, you want more. If this search is honest, real, and full of intention, I believe you will receive what you’re searching for.

TRANSFORMATION (During true seeking)

• God comes close.
• He enters your thoughts.
• He gives you insights you didn’t have before.
• His Spirit is transforming you to be more like Christ

THE COCOON

A Different Kind of Transformation

You’re that caterpillar in the chrysalis that’s transforming into a butterfly. No one on the outside can see what’s happening on the inside. This is a totally private undertaking. Not something you talk or brag about. It’s a quiet growing in an ever deepening awareness of God’s love, and of Christ’s sacrificial and all-encompassing love. You are becoming aware of the still small voice of God as he communes with you in your spirit. Spiritual love floods your whole being. The more you know God, the more you know love and experience love’s effects. It’s an amazing duality of you in God and God in you, words fail me to explain this adequately.

The Christian believer’s path has a destination and a purpose fueled by redemptive love. When you were lost in unbelief, you didn’t know what you didn’t know. Once you knew and responded to Christ, it empowered you.

It is in the knowing that you receive. It is in the believing that you are changed. It is in the loving that you begin to heal of the past, become free in the spirit, and more fully alive in your soul. And you begin to love differently than before. What God is doing inside you he is also preparing for you to share outwardly.

BECOMING FREE TO LOVE

A Natural Process of Christ Living in You

Love begets love. A seed of love sprouts in the heart then matures to a health-building, living organism that is strong, pure, humble, life-enriching, and whole. Love seeks not its own, and it cannot be silenced. Powered by Christ-love, this kind of love, by nature of its source, can’t help but love the unlovely and care for the poor, needy, and unlovely, and outcast…and the souls of all people.

A TRUE STORY

What Happens when You Get Serious About Living It

Three years ago I made a new friend when another church merged with my church. I was leading women’s ministry at the time. At our first WM meeting after the merger, I explained the functions of WM, some of our projects, and our purpose–to love God with heart, mind, and soul, and our neighbor as ourselves. One of the new ladies talked with me and offered her services to help with one of the projects.

Long story short, this woman had a lot of baggage and struggle in her life, but she had a heart for God and a keen mind for applying Scripture. We began meeting regularly and have continued to this day. Two summers ago she experienced a family wound that was unbelievable and has never remedied. But she grew and didn’t blame God.

A couple of weeks ago we had dinner at my house and she said something like this, “I’m so different now. God is so close. I sense his being with me, helping me. I wish I had known I could have this kind of relationship with Christ.” She has this inner glow and her walk with God is life-giving. Yes, she still struggles, but WOW.  She now has the tools to make it and stand on her own two feet.

That’s what I’m talking about, tapping into the closer walk with God. This includes being known by God and his transformational love.

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The next post is about LIVING. Knowing and Loving are the two stages before Living. Both steps are taken before the beautiful butterfly emerges to fly free.

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Access next stage here: THE LIVING: The Third Stage of Spiritual Life