Dr. BJ Condrey

I look back and am so thankful for many of the changes God’s Spirit has wrought in my life. I could never deserve God’s love, costly and free gift of salvation in Christ, or his ongoing work in and through my life via the Person of the Holy Spirit. Thank you, Lord. I would be lost without you. I can honestly say that I am one of those people who would have a mental breakdown if there was no such thing as objective truth and meaning for human beings. I don’t know how people without the Lord cope.

Interestingly, one of God’s changes in my life happened when I was 19 or 20. Up until then, I HATED reading. The only book I genuinely enjoyed was the Bible. In high school, I managed to graduate third in my class mostly through memorization, rarely reading anything in depth. But then two pivotal events occurred. First, during a dentist appointment, the dentist asked if I liked to read. I responded, “No.” He then asked if I would consider reading a book he’d give me, and he handed me a copy of The Evolution of a Creationist. I couldn’t put it down! I finished it in just a few days (if memory serves) and realized that I did enjoy reading—I just hadn’t discovered the books that truly captivated me yet. Next, at age 20, I joined the Master’s Commission and am convinced that the Holy Spirit supernaturally transformed my attitude. I went from disliking reading to having an insatiable desire to read and learn. I simply couldn’t get enough!

I now have my PhD and I can’t imagine my life without books, a deep love of learning, reading theology, ethics, and philosophy, and being able to write and teach. In other words, God’s supernatural work in my heart in my early 20s prepared me to walk in his calling for my life (at least part of it). I am grateful. Isn’t that just like God? He had to transform me and work within me so that I could love what He wanted me to love and develop the skills He wanted me to cultivate. This transformation was necessary for me to walk in his path and fulfill part of my calling.

God is faithful.

God is active.

God has our long-term good in mind (along with his own glory, which thankfully, is not in competition with our eternal good).

What change does God want to make in your life? What transformation might pave the way for His glory and bring deeper satisfaction to your life, both now and in the future, if you yield to Him? Where is your heart pointing (this question can also lead you away from God since we are not perfect creatures, so beware).