Are you spiritually awake? Maybe you can’t hear what God is saying because you are spiritually sleeping. In today’s message, Pastor Bill talks about how we need to actively listen to God. God uses His people to share the Gospel, and because of this, He requires us to be spiritually conscious. We achieve this by actively living out our lives to bring Him glory. We need to nurture our relationship with God to understand Him. If we are in spiritual slumber, God cannot be evident in how we live.

Have you ever been frustrated at the people who hold power? Like a president, governor, or state senator? In today’s edition of A Transforming Word, Pastor Bill talks about how as Christians, we are to respect the people in authority. God has control over every single aspect of the earth. Nothing surprises God. Because He has rule over the world; He selects the people in Power. God calls for us to honor the people in command and what they choose. As we go through the world, share the love of Christ by respecting those in power.

When you open your home to a stranger, it’s an act that points to something else. When you choose to forgive someone who has greatly wronged you, it causes that person to stop and pause. When you put others before yourself, you’re communicating something with your actions. In all of these areas, Pastor Bill reminds you today that you’re showing people Jesus. You’re only doing the very thing that Jesus did for you in the first place! So next time you want revenge, turn the other cheek instead.

A weed starts small. It doesn’t seem like a big deal, but as it grows, it gets more prickly, and the roots get thicker and harder to pull out. When you allow the worries of this world to grow in your mind and your heart, it’s going to be harder to uproot them! Eventually, they can take over and choke out the good thoughts and actions that you’re attempting to do. In today’s teaching, Pastor Bill discusses several things God asks you to do or not do so that you’re able to fight against being choked out.

There are cases where you have to take a step, putting one foot in front of the other. Then you can take the next step, not sure where it might lead, but continue to proceed. What Pastor Bill mentions today is that things with God tend to build on each other, and as you give more of your life over to Him, it will become evident what the next step is. God will lead and guide you in it! So you don’t have to walk with timidity, because you have God with you, as you surrender, sacrifice, and serve!

When you make Jello, it takes the shape of whatever container it’s inside of. So you have to think about what you’re putting that liquid into before it solidifies into the eventual shape. Did you know that you can be shaped in a certain way, based on what thinking container you put your mind in? This could be a dangerous thing to do if you’re looking at what the world deems as safe, honorable, moral, and loving. But Pastor Bill wants you to aim today to be shaped by God’s ways and thinking!

You notice it the first time you drop your infant off at childcare. Or that first day of Kindergarten. How about when your teenager drives off by herself for the first time? The college dorm drop-off days are always hard too! There’s an element of surrender that you have to be ok with, in letting them go and live their life apart from you. Did you know that God wants you to surrender your life over to Him? Today, Pastor Bill talks about how this is necessary for you to live a life for God, fully surrendered to Him!

How often do you give advice when it’s not asked for? It’s hard to not spew your opinions everywhere, because, from our experience, we’re right! But today, Pastor Bill reminds us that God doesn’t need our council. While we might go about things differently if we were Him, it’s only because we don’t see everything that He sees. We don’t even have the full picture! So, before you go telling God what to do, take a step back and remember, that He knows everything, while you know nothing in comparison.

Non-believers often think that Christianity is about following a bunch of rules and restricting behavior, all for the sake of following God. But today, Pastor Bill reminds us that that’s not what it’s about at all! Christianity is about freedom in Christ! He doesn’t give us rules just for the sake of them, He lays down what we should and shouldn’t do, for our own benefit. He tells us to stay away from certain things because He knows those things will only bring us to hurt. He’s not a strict God, He’s a loving Father.

It’s hard to not allow our emotions to rule us; we feel so strongly, yet so much of our feelings are based on perspective. When you walk down the street and someone won’t move out of your way, it’s frustrating! But from their perspective, YOU won’t move out of THEIR way. Pastor Bill reminds us today that our perspective is not the same as God’s, because He sees it all! So, while your emotions may be strong, don’t forget to approach the Lord in humility, inquiring as opposed to demanding. Remember, His ways are not yours.