Have you ever tried to change a bad habit or improve a part of your character? Maybe you wanted to be more patient, more kind, or more disciplined. You might have found that change is hard, really hard. That’s because true change doesn’t just happen on the outside; it has to start on the inside.
Our key verses talk about this inner transformation, the work of the Holy Spirit in changing us from the inside out. Ezekiel 36:27, looking forward to this work, says, “And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” Romans 8:11, looking at the result of this work, tells us, “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.”
These verses reveal that the Holy Spirit is the key to real, lasting change in our lives. Let’s explore this “inner transformation.”
Ezekiel, in the Old Testament, spoke of a time when God would give His people “a new heart and put a new spirit in you.” This wasn’t just about changing their behavior; it was about changing their very nature. Think about a plant. If you want it to grow and produce good fruit, you can’t just paint the leaves or tie the branches in the right direction. You have to change its roots, its inner structure. That’s what the Holy Spirit does for us. He doesn’t just tweak our behavior; He gives us a new heart, a new desire to follow God.
Romans 8:11 connects this inner change to the resurrection of Jesus. It says that the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead is now living in us! This is incredible. The power that brought Jesus back to life is the same power that transforms us. It’s like having a dormant seed inside of you, and the Holy Spirit is the water and sunlight that cause it to sprout and grow. He brings the life of Jesus into our “mortal bodies,” not just physically, but spiritually. He makes us alive to God.
This transformation is not something we can do on our own. We can’t just decide to be better and make it happen. It’s the work of the Holy Spirit, changing us from the inside out.He works in our hearts, changing our desires, our thoughts, and our attitudes. He helps us to see ourselves as God sees us, to love what He loves, and to turn away from what He hates. He produces in us the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
This inner transformation is not a one-time event; it’s a lifelong journey. We don’t become perfect overnight. The Holy Spirit works in us gradually, step by step, as we yield ourselves to Him. It’s like learning a new skill. You don’t become an expert in a day. You practice, you make mistakes, you learn, and you grow. The Holy Spirit guides us through this process, helping us to grow more and more into the likeness of Jesus.
The key to this transformation is to “live in the Spirit” (Romans 8:4). This means consciously relying on the Holy Spirit, surrendering our will to Him, and allowing Him to direct our steps. It means praying for His guidance, reading God’s Word, and being part of a community of believers who encourage us in our growth. As we live in the Spirit, we experience the reality of this inner transformation. We find ourselves becoming more like Jesus, not because we’re trying harder, but because He is changing us from the inside out.