Transformation Starts at the Center, Not the Surface

Father, I don’t feel guilty—I feel hungry.

As I write these words, my watch tells me that my Thursday Thoughts was just published (every Thursday at 9:00 am ET), and my temptation is to read, review, and edit it. But I have chosen not to do that. Instead, I’m focusing on my time with You. It wasn’t an automatic response as it has been in the past—it was a disciplined choice.

That distinction matters. When I am centered on You, my natural response is to seek You first. But when I am centered on myself (or something else), my instinct is to focus on what feeds that part of me. In the first case, I don’t need to deliberate—I just do it. But in the second, I must consciously and intentionally choose what will redirect me back to You.

With repeated, intentional choices to center my life around You, my brain and heart begin to rewire. Over time, my desires and behaviors reflect that transformation. This is where many churches and religious institutions struggle—they try to change behavior before addressing the center. The result? Behavior modification, not true transformation.

Behavior modification relies on external incentives—rewards, pressures, or social expectations—to encourage change. But once those are removed, old habits return. It is not life transformation; it is compliance.

It’s easy to see why religious institutions take this approach: behavior is measurable. How often does someone attend events? Do they dress, speak, or act in ways that align with expectations? Does their family look the part? Measuring who is "in" and who is "out" is far easier when we rely on external metrics. But measuring the true center of a person’s life? That’s much harder.

Real transformation begins when the center shifts. And when that happens, external changes follow—but not always in predictable ways. The timing, expression, and process look different for every person and every culture.

I remember Lori once asking me about my driving: “You drive like this and you’re a Christian?” At that stage in my journey, God was working on deeper issues in my life. My driving didn’t change overnight—it took about five years! Transformation is a process, and institutions often struggle to create systems that recognize this reality.

Eric Hoffer put it this way:"In times of change, learners inherit the earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists."

So what are the markers of true spiritual growth? Scripture gives us timeless ones that transcend culture and personality. Paul’s list in Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV) offers a glimpse:

• Love

• Joy

• Peace

• Patience

• Kindness

• Goodness

• Gentleness

• Faithfulness

• Self-control

Peter adds another in 2 Peter 1:3-9 (MSG):

• Basic faith

• Good character

• Spiritual understanding

• Alert discipline

• Passionate patience

• Reverent wonder

• Warm friendliness

• Generous love

These qualities can be seen in the lives of Christ-centered people, but they are hard to quantify. Every truly godly person I’ve known has embodied them in unique ways. I can describe how they lived them out, but I can’t distill them into a checklist that applies to all people at all times.

At the core, godly people are deeply Christ-centered and profoundly humble. That’s the real work of transformation—not surface-level change, but a heart that is rooted in Him.

Want to help us create an assessment to help thousands of people understand their own spiritual formation? Take our Spiritual Formation Index, now in development. * https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/10562-in-times-of-change-learners-inherit-the-earth-while-the